Goalkeeper Dominik Levakovic was the hero, saving three penalties in the shootout, as Croatia beat Japan 3-1 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
After a 1-1 draw in extra time, Levakovic kept out the first two attempts before stopping Maya Yoshida’s kick, then Mario Pasalic tucked his penalty into the corner.
Zlatko Dalic’s side, beaten by France in the final four years ago, will face tournament favorites Brazil or South Korea in the next round on Friday (15:00 GMT).
Japan were lively and took a deserved lead two minutes before half-time when Celtic forward Daisen Maeda converted Yoshida’s knock-out.
Croatia equalized in the second half thanks to Ivan Perisic’s superb bullet header from Dejan Lovren’s cross, becoming his country’s all-time leading scorer with 10 goals at major tournaments.
With neither side able to make progress and the game ticking into extra 30 minutes, a brilliant strike from Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma was headed in by Levakovic.
At the other end, Marco Levaja’s flick header looked to be going in, but Shochi Gonda managed to collect and Loro Majer’s shot was pulled away in the 120th minute.
The contest went to a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out, where Levakovic emerged as the man to lead Croatia’s celebrations.
Experienced Croatia crushed Japan’s dream.
Croatia just knows how to do it.
In 2018, when they almost lifted the trophy, they emerged from extra time with wins in each of their knockout games before losing in the final.
Seven of their last eight knockout games at the World Cup and Euros have gone to extra time, except for the match against France.
They failed to score in two of their three group games but showed their vast experience to progress to the last eight.
It didn’t get off to a good start though, as Shogo Taniguchi came close to netting for Japan in just the third minute but flicked his header wide.
Daichi Kamada was trying to end a team move but skewed his shot wide for a throw-in from six yards out. They succeed thanks to Maida’s poaching efforts at close range.
Croatia, though, hit back through Perisic’s header as they moved past Dover Soccer’s nine goals in major tournaments. Only the legendary striker has scored more international goals for his country, with 45 to Perisic’s 33.
The Tottenham player could have netted when Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu miscued a backpass, allowing his north London rival to run at goal, but Gonda headed home from an angle. A shot out.
Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic bent wide and Luka Modric’s dipping effort was headed wide by Gonda.
Croatia needed someone to stand up and Levakovic stopped efforts from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Yoshida to become only the third goalkeeper to save three penalties in a World Cup shootout.
For Japan, their dream ended once again in the round of 16, failing to progress beyond that stage in all four World Cups.
