◀ Anchor ▶
Japan, who came through the group of death, also failed to challenge for the first time in history.
As the protagonist of the event, they played a draw against Croatia, the second place in the last tournament, but in the end they fell in the penalty shootout.
Reporter Kim Jang-hoon covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
The first to win was Japan.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, striker Maeda, who had been regretting scoring throughout the tournament, finally rattled the Croatian net.
[카타르 월드컵 MBC 해설진]
“Japan scored. Maeda scored. (Japan wants to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.)”
It was Japan’s first goal of the tournament.
But the momentum didn’t last long.
In the 10th minute of the second half, Croatia, who pushed Japan fiercely, turned the game around with Perisic equalizing with a header.
Perisic, who is also Son Heung-min’s Tottenham team-mate, became the protagonist and scored in three consecutive World Cup tournaments.
After that, Japan aimed for another goal with Endo’s shot, and Croatia also aimed for other goals with Modric’s surprise mid-range shot, the star of the game, but in the 90th minute the game was 1:1 and the game went to time extra.
In extra time, there were clear scoring opportunities, but neither side managed to score an extra point, and the game eventually went to penalty kicks.
However, on the eve of the quarter-finals, which were closer than ever, Japan’s momentum fell to nothing.
Following Minamino’s kicker, No. 2 kicker Mitoma No. 2, and Yoshida No. 4, they were all blocked at the fingertips of 27-year-old Croatian goalkeeper Libakovic.
Japan lost 3-1 without even getting a fifth kick and had to hand over their ticket to the quarter-finals to Croatia.
[엔도 와타루 / 일본 대표팀]
“Our goal was to advance to the quarter-finals, so this game leaves us with a lot of regret. We will never forget the memory of this loss.”
The British BBC analyzed the lack of preparation for the shootout as a loss, saying, “The Japanese national soccer team seemed to have no experience of practicing penalty kicks.”
This is Kim Jang-hoon from MBC News.
MBC News awaits your report 24 hours a day.
▷ Telephone 02-784-4000
▷ Email mbcjebo@mbc.co.kr
▷ Report Kakao Talk @ mbc
