Croatia is in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Luka Modric and Co. once again showed resilience and coolness against Japan. Overtime and penalties are the south-eastern Europeans.
Of course, Dominik Livakovic was the center of attention after Croatia reached the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The keeper, dubbed the “Zadar octopus” in his home country after the thriller against Japan (1-1, 3-1 penalties), saved three out of four opposing attempts in a penalty shoot-out, putting his team in the top eight of the game tournament leveled.
Livakovic wrote World Cup history with his performance and joined an illustrious group. The Dinamo Zagreb pro became just the third goalkeeper ever to save three penalties in a single World Cup shoot-out, following Portugal’s Ricardo against England in 2006 and fellow Croatian Danijel Subasic against Denmark in 2018.
Livakovic: “The best match of my life“
On the day after reaching the quarterfinals, Livakovic was a popular conversation partner. “Of course this was the best match of my life and one of the best moments of my career“, said the 27-year-old himself on Tuesday (December 6th, 2022) about his performance.
Secret of success: “instinct and analysis“
The night before, right after the Japan game, he hadn’t wanted to hang his exploits that high. “It’s more instinct and analysis by the shooters“, the 27-year-old had said about his secret of success, and then added succinctly: “That’s all. A penalty shootout is always uncertain and risky.”
In any case, Livakovic was duly celebrated in the Croatian press. So far, the Dinamo Zagreb keeper had not even counted as a penalty killer. “We weren’t even aware that it was another penalty specialist“, wrote the daily newspaper “Slobodna Dalmacija“.
Livakovic was already convincing in training
It could have been guessed that Livakovic could become Croatia’s secret weapon, as he had already defused 14 of 54 penalties in his career – a more than decent rate. Defender Dejan Lovren also reported that in training before the Japan game, the keeper “almost all penalties” held and brought the field players to despair.
“Continuing the tradition of four years ago”
It’s Livakovic’s first World Cup as a regular Croatian keeper. He was able to see how to shine on the world stage back in 2018 in Russia. At that time he was there as a substitute goalkeeper when his colleague Subasic came up trumps. Now he was in top form himself.
“We continued the tradition from four years ago”, he said. At that time, Croatia advanced in both the round of 16 and the quarter-finals on penalties.
In the round of 16 against Denmark, Subasic shone in the shootout, saving against Christian Eriksen, Lasse Schöne and Nicolai Jörgensen. In the end Croatia won 4:3 (1:1, 3:2 on penalties).
World Cup penalty shootout always won
In the round of the top eight, the south-eastern Europeans then prevailed against hosts Russia. Subasic saved against Fedor Smolov, Mario Fernandes shot wide for the Russians – after a 2:2 and a 4:3 on penalties, the Croatians were in the semifinals.
The journey didn’t end there. In the round of the top four against England, Modric, Subasic and Co. went into overtime again. The Croatians ran and fought for their lives until the last minute of the game. Ultimately, they were the spoilsport for the favored opponent and prevailed 2:1. It was only in the final that France stopped the Croatians 4:2, who had previously lost some of their strength in the three thrillers.
Croatia with staying power
In 2022 it seems to be the same. The duel against Japan was Croatia’s fourth in a row in the knockout stages of a World Cup in which they had to go into extra time, but ultimately prevailed.
Also because the mix is right. The squad largely knows each other and has been playing together for a long time. Veterans like 37-year-old Modric, Ivan Perisic (33), who scored the 1-1 equalizer against Japan in regular time, Dejan Lovren (33), Marcelo Brozovic (30), Andrej Kramaric (31), Mateo Kovacic (28) or Marco Pasalic (27) have international experience and have already fought many battles.
A mix of young and old
They lead the younger players such as RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol (20 years old), VfB Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa (24), Lovro Majer (24) or Nikola Vlasic (25). A healthy mix that makes Croatia strong and that got them into the top eight in Qatar.
For the third time they are in the knockout stages of the tournament. In 1998 they finished third, four years ago second in Russia. And this time?
First of all, the record world champions are waiting in the quarterfinals with Brazil (December 9th, 2022, 4 p.m., live in the audio stream at sportschau.de). Although Croatia are outsiders, they are confident in the duel with an absolute favorite for the title.
“Give us those terrible Brazilians too“
Livakovic, whose performance gave Captain Modric a “Wonder“He will be the center of attention again. After his appearance against Japan, he is regarded as the beacon of hope for an entire nation.”Give us those terrible Brazilians too, there’s no fear when someone from Zadar is in our goal“wrote the tabloid”24 Sata” in view of the duel.
For national coach Zlatko Dalic, the Selecao is “the strongest team at the 2022 World Cup“. Maybe, according to the coach, it would be better “if it was the final“. Nevertheless, he and his team would have “no fear. We won’t give up“.
Dalic warns Brazil
Dalic also warned the Brazilians: “Never underestimate us. We are a small nation, we work hard and we fight for our goals.”
“Do not give up“, “work hard” and “fight for the goals” – the perfect paraphrase for Croatia’s football at the World Cup. And that’s exactly what they will do again against the Selecao. Be it over 90 minutes, over 120 minutes or more. Croatia has experience in it.