Can Japan beat Croatia?

Can't kick it.

Croatia defeated Japan 4-2, and the goalkeeper saved three penalty kicks.

In the early morning of December 6, 2022, Beijing time, at the Janub Stadium in Al Wakla, the Japanese team, which surprised everyone in the group stage, encountered the previous runner-up Croatia. After 120 minutes of fierce battle, Croatia won by 1 After a 1-1 draw with Japan, Croatia won the penalty shootout 3-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Four years ago in Russia, Croatia lost a goal first in the semifinals and eventually reversed and eliminated England 2-1. Four years later, Croatia staged a similar reversal.

Japan, which once took the lead in the game, failed to rewrite the team history record and stopped in the top 16.

The Japanese team was full of confidence before the game and looked forward to making history:

Before the World Cup, the Japanese team publicly expressed its desire to reach the quarterfinals or even go further. After the group advanced to the top spot in the group, the Japanese team was even more confident.

Nagatomo Yuto said in an interview: "Japanese football is not only at the level of the top 16 of the World Cup. We are confident that we can break through history and create new records." Ryu Dogan even shouted out the heroic words of winning the World Cup. , "Now we are aiming to win the World Cup. This is not a joke, but a goal we are working hard for. First we have to get over the top 16. There is nothing we want to do more than winning at the moment." Not only the players, but also the coach Yasuichi Mori did not hide this ambition. He personally told the media, "We will advance to the finals in three more games."

Facing such a high-profile team The team, Croatia coach Dalic had his own response, "Spain and Germany have dominated the game when facing the Japanese team, but they were overconfident and were punished for it. We cannot relax for even a second. , and the competition experience will help us.” The implication is that Croatia will not repeat the mistakes of Germany and Spain.