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Japan, which was aiming to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in its history, shed tears in the penalty shoot-out.
Today (6th), as we and Japan lost, the blast of Asian football in this tournament also stopped in the round of 16.
This is reporter Jeong Ban-seok.
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Japan scored the first goal in the 43rd minute against Croatia, the runner-up of the last tournament, and increased their momentum.
When Doan Ritsu's cross hit a defender and flowed, Maeda cheered as he finished.
In the 10th minute of the second half, Croatia counterattacked with a powerful header.
Son Heung-min's Tottenham teammate Perisic received a long cross and pierced the corner of the goal with his head to equalize.
Afterwards, Japan's Endo's mid-range shot and Croatia's Modric's mid-range shot were both blocked by the opposing goalkeeper's save, and the two teams faced each other 1-1 until extra time and went into a penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout ended in vain.
Japan's first kicker Minamino and second kicker Mitoma's shots were blocked by the Croatian goalkeeper Ribakovic one after another, and the fourth kicker Yoshida's shot was also blocked by the goalkeeper again.
In the end, Croatia won 3-1 on penalties and secured a ticket to the quarterfinals.
Croatia, who led the World Cup in Russia 4 years ago by winning 3 games in a row, continued their undefeated legend, while Japan shed tears in the round of 16 for the second time in a row despite fighting well.
[Moriyasu Hajime/Japan national team coach: We couldn't cross the round of 16 this time, but I believe our players showed a new era.]
The Asian soccer sensation that heated up this tournament was the same day Korea and Japan were eliminated, following Australia, in the round of 16. stopped.
(Video editing: So Ji-hye)