Dominik Livaković Dominates Croatia vs Japan Reactions With Historic World Cup 2022 Shootout Performance

Croatia is through to the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after defeating Japan 4-1 on penalties

• The Balkans nation can thank goalkeeper Dominik Livaković after he made three stunning saves
• He was the toast of social media for his heroics as the ageing but resilient Croats looked to somehow make a second consecutive final

Dominik Livaković, take a bow!

The Croatian goalkeeper became the biggest news of the 2022 FIFA World Cup for today - thus far - after defying Japan in the Round of 16 clash at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah. He made three saves in the penalty shoot-out that the Eastern Europeans would eventually 4-1.

The match had ended 1-1 after extra time, becoming the first match of the knockout stages in Qatar to reach both stages after the allotted 90 minutes.

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Social media was in praise for the 27-year-old.

@HNS_CFF tweeted happily:

"Three. Penalties. Saved. Hats off, Dominik Livaković! #JPNCRO"

@FabrizioRomano said:

Dominik Livaković makes history! Three goalkeepers have saved three penalties in a single World Cup shootout: Ricardo vs. England (2006), Danijel Subašić vs. Denmark (2018), Dominik Livaković vs. Japan (2022)"

@ZachLowy joked:

Whatever happens to Croatia in the next few weeks, Dominik Livaković is never going to have to buy a beer in Zagreb ever again."

Croatia reach the World Cup quarters with a shoot-out victory over Japan

Croatia reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Monday with a dramatic 3-1 penalty shoot-out win over Japan after a tense last-16 clash ended 1-1.

Mario Pasalic struck the winning penalty to send Croatia through after Ivan Perisic had pulled Croatia level in the 55th minute of normal time following Daizen Maeda's opener for Japan just before the break.

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Croatia now facfaceseits ehas endedither Brazil or South Korea in the last eight and continued midfield icon Luka Modric's stay at his fourth and likely final World Cup.

Japan's bid to reach the last eight for the first time in their history came to a crushing end after another display of the sort which saw off Spain and Germany on their way to topping Group E.