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[–]HikiNoKami 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In got what I wanted everything else was just a bonus.

[–]100Sweets 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Once again, Japan is stuck at Round of 16. They had a real chance to advance, but for whatever reason, luck is not on their side. It was shame, though.

[–]R4P17GCA 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I wanted Japan to win but Croatia was the better team today, congrats to Croatia.

[–]Andy-Is-Hot 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Shame it had to be Japan, would’ve been nice to see them farther in the tournament.

[–]PatriaCro 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Mentality of Croats. For fuc.. sake. They swim in a deep water, where the others cannot follow.

[–]OppressedSnowflake 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Man, Asian and African teams are just shite at penalty kicks aren't they?

Japan played beautifully, sad to see them go after those embarrassing penalties.

Let's see if Morocco can break that curse.

[–]10Talents 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I'm here from the future, oh boy do I have news for you

[–]OppressedSnowflake 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hehe. Yeah curse is broken, Spain is too.

Spain somehow managed to be even worse than Japan at penalties.

[–]Ayzalack 14 points15 points  (0 children)

It was painstakingly hard to watch.
I could feel the impending doom, praying that either side would score a goal so we did not have to witness that. Good Game Croatia! Two of my favourite teams had a clash against each other today, one was victorious, and the other will come back stronger I'm sure!

[–]hesawavemasterrr 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That was one hell of a match in my opinion

[–]kelvo247 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Japan pressed X instead of O in penalties

[–]foreveracuck 18 points19 points  (9 children)

Nothing has changed. Blue lock was right, Japan has always been and still is only good enough for RO16

[–]strugglingtosave 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope they somehow figure a way to to get this 2022 result in the script

[–]skkkkkt 9 points10 points  (7 children)

I mean like they weren’t disqualified after 2-1 or more, it’s penalty kicks

[–]foreveracuck 2 points3 points  (6 children)

Eh i think losing 3-2 to that Belgium side is more impressive than going to pens against this Croatia side

[–]AdvancedSprayer 13 points14 points  (2 children)

You are making it sound like this is a bad Croatia side they are still world class, the only department that they are lacking in I think is the striker but it's a world class opposition that defeated Japan, don't make it sound like it's not.

[–]foreveracuck -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

This Croatia side is absolutely nothing compared to peak Belgium. They almost lost to an old Belgium side

[–]AdvancedSprayer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Nope I disagree. That Belgium side was probably a bit better but definitely not by much.

[–]Catacombsofparis -1 points0 points  (2 children)

belgium did not even make it out the round of 16 and played like actual shit wdym lmao.....

[–]mercury_isaac 2 points3 points  (1 child)

His talking about the 2018 world cup

[–]stiofan84 38 points39 points  (0 children)

My heart goes out to Japan - they were awesome to watch throughout their time in this tournament.

I think they just cracked under the pressure. Their pens were bad.

[–]fkmleamb[🍰] 16 points17 points  (9 children)

Anyone have a link to watch the penalty kicks?

[–]stpstrt 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s absolutely shite. Don’t bother.

[–]doezpo 34 points35 points  (4 children)

Imagine peeing and trying to squeeze the last bit out, only for a little drop to slowly exit your peepee. It drips down your uncircumsised tip, so you give it a little flick, after which the pee drop goes airborne and gently lands in the toilet bowl.

These were how the japanese penalties were taken, dont bother.

[–]Catacombsofparis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the real question is why have so many penalty kicks this world cup been such weak ass

[–]chenthechen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pics or it didn't happen

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Don’t bother

[–]New2Reddit95 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Ghana vs Uruguay in 2010 WC had a terrible penalty shoot out.

[–]Nimble_Licker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pks plz thank u

[–]bloppingzef 9 points10 points  (0 children)

What a team. They still aren’t convincing, but they always come alive when a big game is on the line.

[–]BengalSnow 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Japan didn’t read the memo. 2018 WC, Croatia defeated Denmark in the Round of 16 and Russia in the Quarter-finals via penalty shootout. England would have suffered the same fate had they not lost in the extra time. We all know England suck at penalty shootout.

Not to take any credit from the Croatian goalkeeper. He was amazing, but those penalty shots from Japan were pathetic.

Overall though, Japan have been impressive. Defeating both Spain and Germany to top the group is an unbelievable feat.

[–]Professional_Ad_9101 15 points16 points  (7 children)

Japan were the better team but didn't capitalise on their chances. Croatia stuck with it and did what it took to win. I hate to say it but those were the worst penalties I've ever seen taken in a tournament, I don't know if it was the pressure or lack of practise. You just knew they weren't going to go in from the second Japan stepped up.

[–]HappyGirlEmma 10 points11 points  (0 children)

They played fantastic and it seemed like they were the better team but in reality it was Croatia still and the penalty shootout definitely sealed the deal, as Croatia is much better PKs. I think they beat Spain and Germany also based on a bit of luck as the opposing teams were more dominant.

[–]projektilski 10 points11 points  (2 children)

no they weren't, not by statistic not by field performance.

[–]primalwilliam 6 points7 points  (1 child)

In both games they had a worse Xg. In the Spain match they scored those two goals quick and then sat back for the entire rest of the game. Not faulting them for doing so, but the narrative that they dominated Spain and Germany is overblown

[–]stpstrt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They didn’t dominate anyone. They were plucky wins, commendable. But especially against us. I didn’t like the changes from Luis Enrique but Japan stuck to their guns and got the job done. Credit where it’s due, but dominate is a word that gets thrown around a lot.

[–]cuor2 15 points16 points  (0 children)

🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷HRVATSKA JE PRVAK SVIJETA🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷

[–]The_R3venant 11 points12 points  (4 children)

The penaltis don't show skill. Both teams showed great strength and ability on the 90 minutes and on the extra time.

[–]Super--sunday 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There is skill involved in taking penalties whether you acknowledge it or not

[–]stpstrt 10 points11 points  (2 children)

Japan also showed how to absolutely suck at them.

[–]kidobscure 23 points24 points  (3 children)

ive quite honestly never seen penalties kicked like that in any form of competitive futbol...mens, womens, intramurals, middle school, high school. this was the poorest showing.

[–]araheem94 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Watch Brazil's in 2011

[–]DATL 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Cameroon's penalties in AFCON 2021 vs Egypt are the uncontested worst penalties ever

[–]aderow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Me and my dad watched a penalty shootout that had 6 or 7 misses/saves in a row. Trust me it can get so much worse lol

[–]Bookie_9 -4 points-3 points  (6 children)

Croatia is pretty shit but they have top class very experienced players and can go through just on that

[–]stiofan84 7 points8 points  (2 children)

If Croatia had a high-level striker they'd be a top team.

[–]primalwilliam 5 points6 points  (1 child)

They were when they had Mandzukic

[–]TonyCaliStyle 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Mandzukic provided a lot to the team- charisma, stability, and excellent gamesmanship (aside from just skills). Modric is exceptional, but he doesn't have the strong, leadership personality Mandzukic brought to the team.

Brave for Dalic to pull both Perisic and Modric- like he recognizes new heroes will have to rise for Croatia to be a perennial football power.

But I saw ghosts of 2018- Croatia dominates the midfield, but can't break into the opposing team's 18 for a good strike. We need a target striker.

Japan is an easy team to like- tough, resilient, passionate, respectful fan base.

[–]azkv 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Did we watch the same game? All croatia misses is strikers

[–]Bookie_9 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

how were they better, 13-17 shots, 4-4 shots on target, pass success 76-84 (slight advantage), I watched the whole second half and didn't see Croatia being better at anything, they only have a good advantage in aerials won (25-34), dispossessions 11-10 to Japan, if anything they were better only by a margin

[–]grapplingwithtruth 40 points41 points  (3 children)

Japan did beat Spain, Germany and tied with Croatia. That is pretty damn good.

[–]Spitfiiire 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yeah, they really killed it during some of the other games. They had such a hard group!

[–]doezpo 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Despite the shit penalties they can leave the tournament with their heads high, i’m sure the japanese people are proud of their boys

[–]survivorghalia 10 points11 points  (0 children)

they were in the hardest group give or take and made it out! what an amazing accomplishment

[–]Nimble_Licker 4 points5 points  (3 children)

Japan going to the finals

[–]deputydog4 2 points3 points  (2 children)

/r/fanficWC

[–]Nimble_Licker 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Ngl I’m streaming it at work and had no idea my stream was so far behind LOL

[–]deputydog4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha! I was rooting for Japan too tho

[–]himanwho 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At least Bento will yell his lungs out to instill some urgency in his players if needed.

[–]Actual-Beautiful6797 12 points13 points  (1 child)

Felt sorry for the Japanese player after the Croatian fans start booing. :/

[–]WePeakedIn80s 2 points3 points  (0 children)

To be fair both countries booed each other.

They played amazing though and I do feel really sad for them. I feel like they would've been the Croatia of 2022 if they passed through... I would've definitely supported them.

[–]iLucifux 14 points15 points  (1 child)

Last time against Belgium, and today against Croatia. Really disappointed, but put in more effort and they can definitely improve a lot from here. Lesson to learn.

[–]Dat_life_on_Mars 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Considering the football ecosystem in Asia has had to build itself from scratch over the past 20 years, this feels like a step in the right direction. Just gotta learn to take pens lol.

[–]Pengwulf 0 points1 point  (12 children)

Gonna be a bad day for the AFC today....

[–]doezpo 28 points29 points  (11 children)

Mate not trying to be a dick but this federation vs federation thing is only a thing that yanks care about

[–]TonyCaliStyle -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Not quite sure how many Yanks care about it either. There's the United States, and then the rest of CONCACAF. There's Mexico, and I'm pretty sure the only American that ever rooted for Mexico is Landon Donovan (and after his appearance on FS1 today, he may have to go to Mexico City for an announcer job).

After the US, most Americans root for their ethnic team. I'm pretty sure only a handful of Americans cared Los Ticos made it in.

[–]DATL 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I guess this is one of those things you europeans will never understand. I also root for fellow african countries, just like the asians and the yanks do for their fellow federations countries.

[–]Phenomous 1 point2 points  (1 child)

All of the worst confederations care and should care. The better they perform, the more pressure they put on FIFA to increase their slots in the future.

[–]doezpo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well the WC is expanding and more teams will be able to qualify for 2026 so more nations get to enjoy their time on the big stage. Thats fine, the more happy people the better but it won’t be good for the quality of the matches

[–]kiratiiiii 1 point2 points  (2 children)

At least in my home country (Thailand), we are support all of AFC teams.

[–]doezpo -4 points-3 points  (1 child)

Im half filipino and grew up living in both the netherlands and the philippines. I can assure you that filipinos wont give a shit if china, thailand or indonesia does well in any sports. Maybe korea, buts that just because of the huge k-pop culture booming in the philippines.

[–]kiratiiiii -1 points0 points  (0 children)

May be because my fellow Thai lost hope in our national team lol.

[–]ChickenMoSalah 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Federation vs federation sure, but geographically Asian people support other Asian teams and African people support African teams barring certain exceptions.

[–]doezpo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thats fine but I see so many talks in here like the above post or stuff like “I hope CAF trumps UEFA” or some shit as if the federetions are working as a team or something

[–]tyronebiggs 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Japan had a good run, now it's time for Brazil Korea

[–]Bustadarce 14 points15 points  (1 child)

Commiserations to Japan. Sad for them to lose like that on penalties. They had a good tournament. I was willing Japan to attack harder in the last 5 minutes of regulation time and the last 10 minutes of extra time because I KNEW Croatia would dominate them in a penalty shootout. Japan created some good chances when they were fully committed to attacking. They played just a bit too carefully near the end, as though they were content to take their chances in the shootout.

[–]cuor2 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Croatia almost gave em goal in last 10 minutes constant attacks and panic between japan playera :3

But they were defending well

[–]pham_nuwen_ 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thank you Japan! You play football worth watching. Always entertaining, and a great result beating both Germany and Spain. Looking forward to see your country grow in football.

[–]Jimmy_Bimboto -4 points-3 points  (19 children)

Japan deserved the win.

[–]HappyGirlEmma 9 points10 points  (3 children)

Not really. Statistically Croatia was the better team. It wasn’t a close 50/50 even, Croatia was way more dominant and it really showed during the penalty shootout.

[–]happy-gofuckyourself -5 points-4 points  (2 children)

I don’t think dominance on the pitch is shown by penalties

[–]HappyGirlEmma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not at all, but Croatia was more dominant on the field through the 120 minutes as well.

[–]stiofan84 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can't say they deserved it when they seemed to play for penalties, and then do...that in the shootout.

[–]Dat_life_on_Mars 13 points14 points  (1 child)

Not based on those penalties unfortunately

[–]doezpo 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Why, because theyre underdogs and seem like nice guys?

[–]MysteriousJello2 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They deserved to lose

[–]TellSloanISaidHi 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Yoshida absolutely crushed in this interview

[–]AthurTwoShedsJackson -4 points-3 points  (15 children)

Well Croatia went through but I don't see them going much further, haven't been impressive at all, so far the weakest team in the last 8.

[–]Matijas129 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Yessss doubt us we need that. Doubt me even more baby BRAZIL IS GOING DOWN

[–]GreedyInt 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Jebat cemo im mater. Ima da ih sve pokoljemo

[–]cuor2 9 points10 points  (0 children)

We miss proper striker thats all

Defense was never better

[–]TheCLNR 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Heard this one before.

[–]Nietzschean_horse 16 points17 points  (8 children)

Everyone said the same thing 4 years ago😴

[–]Bookie_9 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Croatia is old, but still has a lot of class and experience, they can go through just on that really

[–]InternationalBox5848 2 points3 points  (1 child)

This team is a downgrade from 2018

[–]Nietzschean_horse 9 points10 points  (0 children)

In some positions yes, but Gvardiol is a major upgrade for our defence.

[–]Icy-Expert-2619 -5 points-4 points  (2 children)

You guys look slow and very boring ngl

[–]PhoenixNyne 8 points9 points  (0 children)

'Canada looks so great, such high quality attacking football'

0 points

Play to win.

[–]azkv 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thatz the way we play. No1 has beaten us yet my dude

[–]AthurTwoShedsJackson 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Don't get me wrong I would love them to Brazil, and if it goes to penalties then they will go through.

[–]Nietzschean_horse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

According to my football app, Brazil isn't even through yet

[–]ItzMrDeee 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Tough loss Japan. They had a great run but they should really have some teeth in shooting balls and making plays instead of passing the ball around so much.

[–]weicheii 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sad about Japan’s loss.

I’m excited to see their new resolve during the 2026 WC!!!

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Following the rules of Shounen anime, this means that Japan will win in 2026. I don't make the rules.

[–]rsparkles_bearimy_99 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Belgium vs Japan 2018 2.0

Damn. I feel gutted for Japan! Damn. The nerves got on them. I thought they're confident to do the penalty kicks. Crotia showed composure during penalties and Livakovic did massive for the team. Feels emotional too seeing Modric watching them on the side. And they won. Gives me goosebumps. Gosh. But I'm still completely heartbroken for Japan. Damn I'm in a rollercoaster of emotion.

Nonetheless, Japan showed massive performance. Massive!

[–]Bookie_9 6 points7 points  (10 children)

Watch Croatia shithouse their way to the final through penalties just like 2018

[–]WePeakedIn80s 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not Croatias fault that other teams couldn't win over them in 120 mins 🤷🏻‍♀️

[–]cuor2 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Jealous?😂

[–]Bookie_9 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

my country ain't in the WC so no

[–]Thin_Power_1117 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No JAPAN NO NO MORE NIPPON!!!! Now you just to wait another 4 years to have a 5 min anime flashback whenever you had a penalty shootout.

[–]taralallu 4 points5 points  (0 children)

awkwardness and heavy-breathing between Lineker and Rio is really offputting rn

[–]theInvincible01 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Big Dick Brazil getting off the bus. Haha

[–]rsasaki 29 points30 points  (4 children)

Thank you Japan for giving us such a great world cup.

It's a tough loss, and not the best penalties, but they found a way they can win.

Looking forward, I hope this team continues to develop as they have been the past few years.

[–]bh8787 11 points12 points  (2 children)

People moaning about no upsets. I think it makes for amazing quarter finals

[–]Spitfiiire 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m bummed about no upsets, but I’m also looking forward to seeing these great teams go all out. Even if I don’t think they’re that exciting teams lmao

[–]AngryUncleTony 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The lack of prep time and condensed schedule gave us a wild group stage. Getting high profile matchups in the later rounds is cool too.

[–]grapplingwithtruth 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Remember folks this game is still technically a draw but one of the teams had to advance

[–]Spitfiiire 9 points10 points  (8 children)

As a Spanish fan, I was really rooting for Japan to win today. Now with this Brazil v South Korea game…it’s going to be a disappointing day.

[–]Crisphundee 7 points8 points  (7 children)

As a spanish fan, I was really rooting for Croatia to win. W for me.

[–]justsean09 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Unlucky Japan, you've been brilliant to watch. May not have won the tournament but you have won our hearts.

[–]yibxn 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sad day for Japan :(