![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXMFC3PGLU2BGI5VMM4BY2KMWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=81e373f1c9142218ebb738662107a67ae41f45b5d329f086d6c3e534a0218afb&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic heads home for Croatia to make it 1-1. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TF5DUER354GNVJKNTYWHDYYA5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f3472317aad070c2d5d6bfe096ac2386aa4f8409a9a34d8941c706bd8c225c2&width=400&height=225)
Croatia players celebrate after beating Japan on penalties in their World Cup last-16 match at Al Janoub Stadium on December 5, 2022. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MTW2V6WK3FSA3QH2NLC2OYFQOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b6ba51612cfff148544fdd431a98cbe7bbf522b9de2c1433eefc5a94578a09c3&width=400&height=225)
Dejected Japan players after their defeat to Croatia in Qatar. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C4XS4LHVM4L7LQ6D2DPVNRRWXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a19b7bbcd31ec4ae03fd60f9476f4b54bf6872fe58c977be42523f1ae0502a7&width=400&height=225)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saves from Japan's Kaoru Mitoma during the penalty shoot-out. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FOFFQ6XPKQSRHOPHN3G7E5TYDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e8a1d4a1fe579f837c62e4ce2d4c7fc47df935a052bb83ad34e4ff4f9e4db537&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Kaoru Mitoma misses in the penalty shoot-out. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GM3GB4Y4JNYKPZTALYFOQEXOOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=91f14e2fc156560635b6f620ec0782fdc977d1bc4245df31aac30e4f7600b881&width=400&height=225)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saves from Takumi Minamino of Japan during the penalty shoot-out. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6JZ6EN52H4JE4VEISSZO4NJAC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d62e54ff61ad16b29072f86dffc87d732dabe05901c2abb99eb5b927bb7fbec5&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic celebrates with teammates after scoring. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JUPAMVYTXBBWPRLTW6SRDBOBRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4504cdb84cc687722c80b5ac4a69ff38e9998bb20695565f98a105597bd7f71a&width=400&height=225)
Daichi Kamada of Japan misses a chance. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IK4BRUBFZKF546WQTRZ3XNGB2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=60d6ce43182290bda9b8a39599fd4f9d3c284885010dd15160feb4c5f838ec09&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring for Croatia. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RI74ILMLKCCGOCZMJSXTNIMJDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6df67f3e5f0390af7b9f715ebed3f85d8d7db9fd75b90f16dba40e9f0789793&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Daichi Kamada and Josko Gvardiol of Croatia battle for a header. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5VVFOGQU5FFBQQGTTVTXXVMJBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=73c8bf48907cf53cb5a3023df41f41ae42a973938075a115773afd12c7ff7037&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GN5LNUQVKHET7WUOCWLQYDB2II.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc9823ed2e46f58bd68ef80fd6e5320a2cb410637c110810759a826092470be5&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic heads home to make it 1-1. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N24WE55XTRNZRQ3I5GZWWGEFN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5315dd8cc4c952e76061c56f74ad1d79c85c88f8ffe5b5ec745b02ddb367da3&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's 10 Luka Modric controls the ball. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KJH7ERSQTDB5JWXJDOIC6ESO2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=dbd05b66d95d238ab738b84c6a40e8d54e9c375310a20a8414f5ffff3a67d79b&width=400&height=225)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is beaten by Daizen Maeda's strike for Japan. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LEQNIHUO5CSP6UB3HOJ6WVPZ4E.jpg?smart=true&auth=c979eeb0c085ef1f31ce8f8eaad0c92b0261cdaa11b4bd9c90363c465b5de9ae&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic crosses for Croatia. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/77OENIGNOZ57RDGSSKKQSEBSJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9d2e591aef182c436eacce4d6f8dab7d133448fc603157e9efec8d66d3c06de&width=400&height=225)
Daizen Maeda scores for Japan. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXMFC3PGLU2BGI5VMM4BY2KMWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=81e373f1c9142218ebb738662107a67ae41f45b5d329f086d6c3e534a0218afb&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic heads home for Croatia to make it 1-1. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TF5DUER354GNVJKNTYWHDYYA5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f3472317aad070c2d5d6bfe096ac2386aa4f8409a9a34d8941c706bd8c225c2&width=400&height=225)
Croatia players celebrate after beating Japan on penalties in their World Cup last-16 match at Al Janoub Stadium on December 5, 2022. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MTW2V6WK3FSA3QH2NLC2OYFQOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b6ba51612cfff148544fdd431a98cbe7bbf522b9de2c1433eefc5a94578a09c3&width=400&height=225)
Dejected Japan players after their defeat to Croatia in Qatar. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C4XS4LHVM4L7LQ6D2DPVNRRWXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a19b7bbcd31ec4ae03fd60f9476f4b54bf6872fe58c977be42523f1ae0502a7&width=400&height=225)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saves from Japan's Kaoru Mitoma during the penalty shoot-out. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FOFFQ6XPKQSRHOPHN3G7E5TYDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e8a1d4a1fe579f837c62e4ce2d4c7fc47df935a052bb83ad34e4ff4f9e4db537&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Kaoru Mitoma misses in the penalty shoot-out. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GM3GB4Y4JNYKPZTALYFOQEXOOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=91f14e2fc156560635b6f620ec0782fdc977d1bc4245df31aac30e4f7600b881&width=400&height=225)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saves from Takumi Minamino of Japan during the penalty shoot-out. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6JZ6EN52H4JE4VEISSZO4NJAC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d62e54ff61ad16b29072f86dffc87d732dabe05901c2abb99eb5b927bb7fbec5&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic celebrates with teammates after scoring. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JUPAMVYTXBBWPRLTW6SRDBOBRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4504cdb84cc687722c80b5ac4a69ff38e9998bb20695565f98a105597bd7f71a&width=400&height=225)
Daichi Kamada of Japan misses a chance. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IK4BRUBFZKF546WQTRZ3XNGB2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=60d6ce43182290bda9b8a39599fd4f9d3c284885010dd15160feb4c5f838ec09&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring for Croatia. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RI74ILMLKCCGOCZMJSXTNIMJDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6df67f3e5f0390af7b9f715ebed3f85d8d7db9fd75b90f16dba40e9f0789793&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Daichi Kamada and Josko Gvardiol of Croatia battle for a header. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5VVFOGQU5FFBQQGTTVTXXVMJBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=73c8bf48907cf53cb5a3023df41f41ae42a973938075a115773afd12c7ff7037&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GN5LNUQVKHET7WUOCWLQYDB2II.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc9823ed2e46f58bd68ef80fd6e5320a2cb410637c110810759a826092470be5&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic heads home to make it 1-1. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N24WE55XTRNZRQ3I5GZWWGEFN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5315dd8cc4c952e76061c56f74ad1d79c85c88f8ffe5b5ec745b02ddb367da3&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's 10 Luka Modric controls the ball. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KJH7ERSQTDB5JWXJDOIC6ESO2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=dbd05b66d95d238ab738b84c6a40e8d54e9c375310a20a8414f5ffff3a67d79b&width=400&height=225)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is beaten by Daizen Maeda's strike for Japan. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LEQNIHUO5CSP6UB3HOJ6WVPZ4E.jpg?smart=true&auth=c979eeb0c085ef1f31ce8f8eaad0c92b0261cdaa11b4bd9c90363c465b5de9ae&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic crosses for Croatia. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/77OENIGNOZ57RDGSSKKQSEBSJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9d2e591aef182c436eacce4d6f8dab7d133448fc603157e9efec8d66d3c06de&width=400&height=225)
Daizen Maeda scores for Japan. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXMFC3PGLU2BGI5VMM4BY2KMWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=81e373f1c9142218ebb738662107a67ae41f45b5d329f086d6c3e534a0218afb&width=400&height=225)
Ivan Perisic heads home for Croatia to make it 1-1. EPA
Luka Modric admits Croatia 'can’t do it without drama' after World Cup win over Japan
The 2018 runners-up seal quarter-final spot where they will take on Brazil
![John McAuley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F42fdb821-a1ba-456f-980a-444e78c14d20.png?smart=true&auth=e06a33d0c3a9b91f69d2f6f0423c3e38ec6692b751de87539e969acaa5c3893f&width=70&height=70)
John McAuley
06 December, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic