Croatia defeated Japan 3-1 on penalties after 1-1 draw to seal a place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
From a Celtic point of view, it was a fantastic game to watch.
Josip Juranovic for Croatia yet again had a very solid game at this tournament, both defensively and going forward.
But the star of the show was Celtic’s Japanese striker, Daizen Maeda, who finally got the goal he has been deserving of all tournament.
He has worked tirelessly in every game for Japan up front on his own, and he has already scored in this tournament against Germany in their opening game, but it was ruled out for offside.
And he was Japan’s biggest threat in this game as he constantly put the Croatian defence under pressure with his pressing and his fantastic movement.
Pundit Rio Ferdinand labelled Maeda “a man possessed” in the studio at half time.
And he showed his sharpness and alertness as the ball fell to him inside the area just before half time, which Maeda slotted home first time with his weaker left foot.
As usual, the Japan manager subbed off Maeda midway through the 2nd half, and with that any goal threat that Japan had disappeared.
The penalties from Japan were absolutely shocking, with each player who stepped up, bar the one who scored, walked up head down with absolutely zero confidence or belief that they would score.
But a funny side of the match, Juranovic’s boot cleaner for most of this tournament, Ibrox’s cowardly Croat, Borna Barasic finally got a game after their starting left back Borna Sosa, was ruled out with a virus.
And it’s fair to say he will unlikely play again, as Japan winger Ito ripped him to shreds time and time again, with commentators labelling Barisic “a nervous wreck”.
So Maeda will head home now to Glasgow after a short break you would imagine, while Juranovic heads into the quarter finals with Croatia to play the winner of Brazil against South Korea later tonight, where Celtic fans will be able to watch transfer target Cho-Gue-sung, who starts up front for Korea tonight.
