Livakovic-ing another Croatian Penalty Kick Shootout

 

Croatia entered the 2018 World Cup of Round of 16 ready to face Spain. That much went into 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty kick shootout. Croatia proved victorious and met Russia in the Quarter-Finals. That match also went into 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty kick shootout. Croatia once again proved victorious. They faced England in the Semi-Finals where they needed 30 minutes of extra time to walk away winners. By the time they faced France in the Final, they had played 90 extra minutes, or the equivalent of an extra game compared to France. Surely their 2022 Round of 16 would give them a better start.

Japan would come out and match Croatia's intensity as this was a physical battle from the early minutes. Eventually, it would be Japan who would strike first when Daizen Maeda would strike a loose ball in the box past Dominik Livakovic to give Japan a 1-0 lead going into the half. Croatia wouldn't waste too much time in the second half. At the 55 minute mark as Dejan Lovren would put in a beautiful cross that Ivan Perisic would head with power into the ground and past Shuichi Gonda to even the match at 1 goal apiece. Both teams would take their best shots, but neither goalkeeper was willing to budge. Croatia would pile on the shots at the end of extra time, but they just couldn't find the target. 

The hero of the penalty kick shootout was Croatia's Dominik Livakovic who saved 3 Japanese attempts to give Croatia the 3-1 in penalties.

 

Contestant	Croatia	Prediction	P. Japan	Score	Pks	P. Croatia	Score	Pks	Trifecta	Points	Oracle	Total	Quarterfinalist	Match Bonus
Artifex	Croatia	Germany	Germany	3	none	Canada	0	none	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colubris	Croatia	Spain	Spain	2	none	Croatia	1	none	2	0	2	2	0	0
Fortuitous	Croatia	Spain	Spain	1	none	Canada	0	none	0	0	2	2	0	0
Historicus	Croatia	Germany	Germany	2	none	Croatia	1	none	2	0	2	2	0	0
IoannesNix	Croatia	Germany	Germany	3	none	Morocco	1	none	0	0	2	2	0	0
Musicus	Croatia	Spain	Spain	3	none	Morocco	1	none	0	0	2	2	0	0
Praeceptor	Croatia	Germany	Germany	2	none	Canada	1	none	0	0	2	2	0	0
ReginaApis	Croatia	Spain	Spain	3	none	Belgium	2	none	0	0	0	0	0	0
Scriptor	Croatia	Spain	Spain	2	none	Croatia	0	none	2	0	0	0	0	0