Dominik Livakovic, Croatia goalkeeper, after qualifying for the quarter-finals against Japan (1-1, 3-1 on tabs): “It’s an amazing feeling. Thank God it ended well. They pressed high from the start of the match, which was difficult. This is the greatest moment of my career. » “It was a very tough, exhausting game” Luka Modric, Croatia...
Tag: Japan
Dominik Livakovic, Croatia goalkeeper, hero of the penalty shootout
With Croatia, one goalkeeper can hide another. On Monday, the hero was called Dominik Livakovic, 27, 37 caps and holder of the national team since the second part of 2019 when he won his place against Ivo Grbic (Atlético de Madrid and ex-Lille, 2021- 2022). The Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper managed to stop three Japanese attempts...
Croatia eliminate Japan on penalties and reach the quarters
The match: 1-1 (3-1 on pens) Vice-world champions, Croatia relied on their experience in their round of 16 against Japan: they eliminated their Asian opponent on penalties. It will face Brazil or South Korea for a place in the last four. The meeting was exciting, between two teams with very different styles. Very offensive, especially...
Ritsu Doan, the asset from the bench for Japan
He does not start in selection and his World Cup risks freezing his status. Which may seem paradoxical, since Ritsu Doan scored two of Japan’s four goals. Only they were registered each time coming off the bench, equalizing against Germany (2-1) and Spain (2-1), four and six minutes respectively after coming on, while he is...
Yuto Nagatomo wants to ‘inspire the samurai’ to beat Croatia in round of 16
Yuto Nagatomo repeated it several times, this Sunday, at a press conference: it is the notion of ” courage “ which allowed Japan to finish at the top of their very tough group (ahead of Spain and Germany). The 36-year-old defender now hopes that this virtue will carry his country as far as possible, starting...
Croatia should not ‘underestimate’ Japan, warns Lovro Majer
The Croatian vice-world champions, given favorites against Japan in the round of 16 of the World Cup on Monday (4 p.m.), go to the front of a “disillusionment” if they “underestimate” their opponent, said their midfielder Lovro Majer on Saturday. Asked at a press conference about the status of his selection, Majer replied ‘don’t think...
Japan dream of ‘new heights’ after win over Spain
Almost the whole country was already up at four in the morning Tokyo time when referee Mr. Gomes signaled the start of this Japan-Spain panting. The day before, on the television news, office workers proudly showed their sleeping bags brought to their workplace, ready for a trip to the end of the night. This Friday...
Luis Enrique (Spain coach) after the loss to Japan: “I’m not happy at all”
Luis Enrique (Spain coach after loss to Japan, 1-2): “In football, there are no good or bad sides. There is only merit. I am not happy at all. We qualified, but I wanted to do it by being first and winning. But in five minutes (three) they scored two goals for us, in ten minutes...
Takefusa Kubo after Japan’s qualification for the round of 16: “Hope is free”
Takefusa Kubo (Japan attacking midfielder, Spain won 2-1 and qualified for the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup): “There’s us, Australia, Saudi Arabia came very close to qualifying… don’t underestimate Asia. This victory against a great selection like Spain, no one expected it. We hope that the historic night will be that of...
Against Japan, Spain will not make calculations
All it takes is a draw Spain to ensure their qualification in the round of 16, but don’t tell Luis Enrique. The Spanish coach does not want to know anything about the classification of the group, and he will play to win, especially as the trap is possible, for La Roja: “Imagine that we calculate,...