West Ham United forward Nikola Vlasic, currently on loan at Serie A side Torino, has become the third Hammers player to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Vlasic, who has been representing Croatia at the tournament, saw his country exit on Monday afternoon following a shock 1-0 defeat to Japan in Al Wakrah. Vlasic did not start the game but did play for the final 21 minutes of extra-time as a replacement for Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic.
Japan, who have been one of the dark horses in the tournament so far after finishing above Spain and Germany in Group E, got the opening goal of the game on the stroke of half-time when Celtic forward Daizen Maeda netted at the end of a well-worked set-piece routine.
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However, Croatia got back into the contest when Tottenham Hotspur winger Ivan Persic headed Dejan Lovren's cross in to level the tie ten minutes into the second half.
The two sides could not be separated after 120 minutes, taking the game to a penalty shootout. Former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino missed the first penalty, with Hammers forward Vlasic scoring Croatia's first goal.
Japan missed their second through Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, with Marcelo Brozovic making it 2-0 in the shootout. Japan had a chance of a fightback when Takuma Asano made it 2-1, with Marko Livaja hitting the post with Croatia's third penalty.
Former Southampton defender Maya Yoshida was unable to convert Japan's fourth spot kick, with ex-Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic sealing a 3-1 win in the shootout.
Croatia's Vlasic becomes the third West Ham player in the quarter-finals after Alphonse Areola (France) and Declan Rice (England) booked their place and will meet each other on Sunday.
Vlasic could face another West Ham player in the quarter-finals, should Lucas Paqueta and Brazil get past South Korea on Monday night.
The other player who could get to the World Cup's last eight is Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd. They take on Spain on Tuesday afternoon in the round of 16.
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