Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic hails penalty hero Dominik Livakovic

DELIGHT: Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic celebrate after the shootout win over Japan. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic was certain goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic would star in the penalty shootout victory over Japan as his three saves saw the 2018 finalists reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.

Having never before reached the last eight of the competition, Japan fell at the same stage as they did in 2002, 2012 and 2018, losing 3-1 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw.