Brazil and Croatia are through to the tournament’s quarter-finals after moving past the Qatar World Cup 2022 round of 16. Japan vs. Croatia was the first game of the day, with Japan playing beautiful counterattacks and Croatia seeking to dominate in possession. Japan was the first to score the first goal of the game after a counterattack ended with a goal before Croatia equalized with a very good header. The game ended in the penalties, and Croatia, more experienced in shootouts, won.
Brazil vs. South Korea was less interesting than Croatia’s game, but the Brazilians played beautiful football as they were up by four goals to nil even before the halftime whistle blew. Vinícius Jnr scored the game’s first goal after Raphinha set him up, followed by Neymar from the penalty spot, Richarlison, and Paquetá. Brazil and Croatia will face each other in the Qatar World Cup 2022 quarter-finals.
Japan vs. Croatia Highlights and Summary
Japan vs. Croatia is a game that ended in penalties. However, Japan, from their previous matches, showed they were having a good time at the World Cup. Japan didn’t have anything to lose; they impressed a lot of football fans with their style of play. They had given Spain a shocking defeat when they won 2-1, and they had put up a good fight until Croatia won on penalties.
Croatia was a finalist at the 2018 World Cup played in Russia, and they have already moved past the Qatar World Cup 2022 round of 16 after winning on penalties. However, Japan was the first to score in the game after a good counterattack saw Maeda score in the 44 minutes, but Perisic equalized for Croatia through a header in the 55th minute. Neither of the two teams managed to break the deadlock even during the extra time of 30 minutes. The game would drag on to the penalties, where Croatia won comfortably after 2 of Japan’s penalties were saved by the Croatian goalkeeper.
After the win against Japan, it means that Croatia will be facing Brazil in the Qatar World Cup 2022 quarter-finals. Conversely, Brazil had beaten South Korea by four goals to 1. Both Asian countries will be going home after their world cup journey was tarnished.
Lineups
Japan
(3-4-3): Gonda; Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Taniguchi; Ito, Endo, Morita, Nagatomo; Doan, Maeda, Kamada
Croatia
(4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Barisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Petkovic, Perisic
Goals:
JAP — Maeda (44 mins)
CRO — Perisic (55 mins)
*Croatia win 3-1 on penalties
Brazil vs. South Korea Highlights and Summary
Brazil vs. South Korea was an interesting game; not only did South Korea put up a good fight, but Brazil showed them that they were more interested in winning the world cup than anything else. Before the first half of the match ended, Brazil had already scored four goals, enough to take them to the Qatar World Cup 2022 quarter-finals. Brazil has not won the world cup since 2002, and they are trying hard to win the trophy to reclaim their lost glory. They have the highest number of world cup trophies, and they would like to extend that lead ahead of other countries.
South Korea, on the other hand, didn’t have anything to lose; they had miraculously qualified for the Qatar World Cup 2022 round of 16 after managing to win against Portugal. Vinícius Jr was the one who opened the goal-scoring sheet as he curled a beautiful effort into the net. Neymar, coming back from an ankle injury, also scored from the penalty spot and is just one goal away from equaling Pele’s goal record for Brazil. Richarlison scored again, followed by another goal from Paquetá. The South Korean team found a consolation goal in the 76th minute after Paik Seung-Ho’s shot entered the net.
Lineups
Brazil
(4-2-3-1): Alisson — Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Silva, Danilo — Casemiro, Paqueta — Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Jr — Richarlison
South Korea
(4-2-3-1): Kim Seung-gyu — Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su — Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom — Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min — Cho Gue-sung
Goals:
BRA — Vinicius Junior (Raphinha) — 7th minute.
BRA — Neymar (penalty) —13th minute.
BRA — Richarlison (Thiago Silva) — 29th minute.
BRA — Paqueta (Vinicius Junior) — 37th minute.
KOR — Paik Seung-ho — 76th minute.