Japan vs Croatia WC 2022 Post-match Analysis: The Samurai Warrior's adventure comes to an end

Entering the 2022 World Cup, the Japanese team was not appreciated when sharing the same group with Germany and Spain. However, defeating these two famous teams helped Japan take the top spot and win the right to go on. Meanwhile, Croatia is the runner-up at the World Cup. They are unbeaten in the tournament, with two draws and one win.

Japan was undervalued compared to Croatia before the ball rolled, but when entering the match, the Asian representative entered the game impressively and played proactively. The range of the "Blue Samurai" was kept very well, even when switching from defense to counterattack, causing Croatia many difficulties.

In the first half, Japan created many opportunities to score. At the 43^rd minute, the Celtic striker, Daizen Maeda had a close-range finish to open the scoring for Japan, after a clever corner kick arrangement by his teammates. This is the award that Japan deserves because they played disciplined but did not shrink when given the opportunity to raise the squad and attack the opponent. 

Daizen Maedan had the  leading goal for Japan

In the second half, Japan still maintained their playing style and spirit, but they could not compete at the level of the defending runners-up. In the 54th minute, Ivan Perisic had a dangerous header to help Croatia level the score. This goal not only shows the strength of Croatia but also warns that the defending runner-up found out the weakness of Japan’s defense.

Ivan Perisic had equalized goal for Croatia

In the remaining time of the second half, Croatia continuously created a threat to Japan’s sheet while the Samurai's defense played more carefully to help them keep it.

The match between Japan and Croatia is the first time a match in the 2022 World Cup has gone to extra time. The match continued to be tense in the extra 30 minutes. Japan, with its advantage in fitness and youth, and Croatia, with its experienced squad, could not gain a win after 120 minutes.

Despite playing well throughout the game, Japan's penalties were poor. Only striker Asano converted from the spot, while captain Yoshida and strikers Minamino and Mitoma all missed.On the Croatian side, only Livaja missed one of the four shots.

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic became a hero when he saved three of four penalty kicks from Japan. He is the third person in the history of the World Cup to save three penalties in the penalty shootout.

The match ended with a win for Croatia.

Although not highly evaluated before the tournament, the Samurai Blue stunned the world with massive upsets over Spain and Germany to win Group E. They had a chance to make outstanding history for Japan, but their spirit did not show in the penalty point. Thus, the Green Samurai could not overcome themselves when they had not once passed the 1/8 round of a World Cup.

In contrast, despite having scoreless draws against Morocco and Belgium in the group stage, Croatia's experienced players always shone at this time to help Croatia continue their miraculous journey that began four years ago. Croatia’s opponent in the quarterfinals is Brazil, one of the brightest candidates for the champions title. This will be a difficult match that Luka Modric and his teammates will have to play.