CROATIA SAVED BY LIVAKOVIC

Croatia is going deep at another World Cup, and the team is taking the long route once again.

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks in Croatia’s 3-1 shootout win over Japan on Monday, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runnerup in the 2018 tournament. The match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, was tied at 1-1 after extra time.

On its surprising run to the final in Russia four years ago, Croatia needed extra time in each round in the knockout stage — and twice came through a penalty shootout.

“History keeps repeating itself,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said with a smile.

Livakovic was the backup goalkeeper to Danijel Subasic in 2018 but took center stage this time, diving to his left to keep out Japan’s first penalty by Takumi Minamino, to his right to block Kaoru Mitoma’s effort from the second penalty, and then again to his right to deny Maya Yoshida on the fourth.

That gave Mario Pasalic the chance to put away the clinching penalty. The substitute joined the rest of Croatia’s jubilant players in heading right for Livakovic after hitting the back of the net.

“In Croatia, we do things this way,” Livakovic said. “I continued the tradition.”

The similarities with 2018 do not stop there. Just like in every game in the knockout stage that year, Croatia fell behind to Japan when Daizen Maeda swept in a close-range finish in the 43rd.

Ivan Perisic equalized by meeting Dejan Lovren’s cross from the right with a header into the bottom corner from near the penalty spot in the 57th.

Japan regroups

After making it back to the round of 16, Japan is headed back to the drawing board.

“Penalties. Nothing you can do,” Japan midfielder Wataru Endo said. “You can’t blame anyone. That we let it get to a shootout was the reason for the defeat. The preparation for the next one (World Cup) starts today.”

Japan first reached the round of 16 at the World Cup as co-host in 2002. The team made it that far again in 2010 and also in 2018.

Japan coach Hajjme Moriyasu tried to soften the blow of another knockout loss, saying the team had entered a “new era.”

“We cannot be superheroes in one go,” Moriyasu said. “We have to improve step-by-step. But Japan is reaching a level where we can play on the world stage.

“These players can look eye-to-eye with anyone now and take confidence in who we beat.”

Son sans single goal

Son Heung-min is South Korea’s superstar. He has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe with Tottenham and was the co-leading scorer in the English Premier League last season. Yet, Son’s latest chance to light up the sport’s biggest stage came and went: He leaves the World Cup without a single goal.

For Son, the there was the frustration of knowing he was never going to be at the peak of his powers in Qatar. Not after an eye socket broken a few weeks before the tournament began forced him to wear a protective facemask throughout his four matches.

Notable FIFA

says Uruguay’s

Edinson Cavani, Jose Maria Gimenez, Diego Godin and

Fernando Muslera face discipline for their angry pursuit of the referee after being eliminated last week.

FIFA has brought disciplinary charges against Serbia for alleged misconduct by players and fans including offensive chants at the game against Switzerland.

Oliver Bierhoff is the first casualty of Germany’s early World Cup exit after agreeing to resign as managing director of the national soccer teams and academy.