Welcome to Truth Live News football commentary for Japan vs Croatia knockout stage 2022 World Cup match in Qatar at the Al Janoub Stadium.
It’s knock-out from here on in, so no conservative playing allowed! Both sides will be looking to get into the quarter-finals where a match-up against either Brazil or South Korea awaits.
QATAR 2022: Japan vs Croatia Lineup
Japan starting XI: Gonda (GK), Tomiyasu, Nagatomo, Yoshida, Taniguchi, Kamada, Endo, Morita, Maeda, Ito and Doan.
Croatia starting XI: Livakovic (GK), Juranovic, Barisic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Perisic, Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic, Kramaric and Petkovic.
The first half is underway!
5′
Ball possession: Japan: 33%, Croatia: 67%. Croatia are in control of the ball.
10′
Ball possession: Japan: 17%, Croatia: 83%. Croatia are in control of the ball.
15′
Ball possession: Japan: 29%, Croatia: 71%.
20′
Ball possession: Japan: 32%, Croatia: 68%.
The first 20 minutes of the first half was highly dominated by the Croatians as they put more pressure on the Japanese Samurai Blues in ball possession. No breakthrough yet for both sides.
25′
Ball possession: Japan: 34%, Croatia: 66%. Croatia are in control of the ball.
30′
Ball possession: Japan: 38%, Croatia: 62%. Croatia are in control of the ball.
35′
Ball possession: Japan: 38%, Croatia: 62%.
43′
G O O O A A A L – Maeda puts Japan ahead!
Daizen Maeda scores with the left foot! Maya Yoshida provided the assist for the goal.
45+3′
Ball possession: Japan: 41%, Croatia: 59%.
45+3′
It’s over! The referee blows for half time
45+3′
HT: Japan 1-0 Croatia. The Blue Samurai stun the Croatians for now. In a first half in which both teams fought to keep possession, the Japanese managed to go into the break ahead thanks to Maeda’s goal in the last minutes of the first half.
The second half is underway!
50′
Ball possession: Japan: 41%, Croatia: 59%.
55′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
56′
G O O O A A A L – Perisic equalises for Croatia!
Ivan Perisic from Croatia heads the ball home! Dejan Lovren provided the assist for the goal.
60′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
65′
Ball possession: Japan: 43%, Croatia: 57%. Croatia are in control of the ball.
70′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
75′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
80′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
85′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
90′
Ball possession: Japan: 41%, Croatia: 59%.
90′
Yellow Card! Mateo Kovacic commits a rough foul on an opponent and goes into the referee’s book.
90+1′
The fourth official shows there are 4 minute(s) of time to be added.
90+5′
Ball possession: Japan: 41%, Croatia: 59%.
The regular time is over!
Both teams had chances, but we will need at least Over Time to see a winner here.
We’re waiting for extra time.
The extra time is underway!
95′
Ball possession: Japan: 43%, Croatia: 57%.
100′
Ball possession: Japan: 43%, Croatia: 57%.
105′
Ball possession: Japan: 43%, Croatia: 57%.
105+1′
The fourth official shows there are 2 minute(s) of time to be added.
105+3′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
105+3′
The first half of Extra time is over.
106′
The second half of extra time is underway.
110′
Ball possession: Japan: 42%, Croatia: 58%.
115′
Ball possession: Japan: 43%, Croatia: 57%.
The second half of Extra time is over.
The Penalty Shootout Is Underway!
PEN
HE MISSES! – Takumi Minamino from Japan takes the penalty, but is denied by Dominik Livakovic!
PEN
G O O O A A L – Nikola Vlasic converts the penalty with the right foot! Shuichi Gonda was close to denying the goal!
PEN
HE MISSES! – Kaoru Mitoma from Japan takes the penalty, but is denied by Dominik Livakovic!
PEN
G O O O A A L – Marcelo Brozovic converts the penalty with the right foot in the middle! Shuichi Gonda jumped on the right!
G O O O A A L – Takuma Asano converts the penalty with the right foot! Dominik Livakovic wasn’t lucky and didn’t guess the direction of the penalty!
PEN
HE HITS THE POST! – Marko Livaja from Croatia takes the penalty, but the shot hits the post.
PEN
HE MISSES! – Maya Yoshida from Japan takes the penalty, but is denied by Dominik Livakovic!
120′
FT. Japan 1-1 Croatia (1-3). The Croatians qualify for the next round on penalties and end Japan’s World Cup dream. After a very close match in which the Blue Samurai took the lead with a Maeda goal in the first half but were equalised by a Perisic goal in the second half. After an extra time in which there were few chances, the Croatians won on penalties 3-1.