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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Croatia beat Japan in World Cup penalty drama to reach quarter-finals - 6 talking points

The final World Cup game at the Al Janoub Stadium produced a tense affair, with Dominik Livakovic the hero with three saves as Croatia beat Japan in a penalty shoot-out.

Daizen Maeda broke the deadlock moments before half-time, with Japan taking advantage of a spell on top. The Celtic forward was on hand to lash home after Croatia were unable to clear a Ritsu Doan ball into the box, and it was enough to send Hajime Moriyasu's team in with a narrow lead after reaching this stage with a famous win against Spain.

Just as they looked in control, though, Ivan Perisic headed in an equaliser out of nothing to set up an exciting final 35 minutes. Livakovic produced a fingertip save to deny Wataru Endo and a desperate interception denied Marcelo Brozovic as both sides looked for the third goal of the game.

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