Simply earlier than the penalties, the sport might have been finished and dusted by Brazil. Casemiro had the ball on the left nook, with simply the Croatian goalkeeper Dominic Livakovic.
Within the second half, Livakovic had already made at the least 7 saves already, speeding out to disclaim time and house to Neymar, or making lunging stops. However this one felt completely different. The ultimate second within the extra-time, only a whistle away from the shootouts, however all of a sudden Casemiro’s foot swings in direction of him from an in depth vary. It wasn’t a strong kick nevertheless it didn’t a lot venom from that distance.
The ball swerved to his left, however Livakovic fends it away. Whistle blows. Shootouts start. On the day earlier than the quarterfinal in opposition to Brazil, Livakovic would inform HRT Sport about how he prepares for his penalties. He had already saved Crotia within the recreation in opposition to Japan.
“A very powerful factor for me is to stay calm firstly, in line with some feeling and evaluation I get from the analyst Marko, that’s what I have a look at probably the most. He exhibits me their penalties a few years in the past, and I have a look at physique tilt and a few little issues based mostly on that, however ultimately you principally depend on feeling,” says Livaković.
Croatia’s hero… once more! 🇭🇷🧤#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/w8QroYs2aJ
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He then provides, in reference to the Brazil recreation, “However I hope that we’ll remedy it earlier than the penalty.”
They couldn’t. However he would remedy it in the course of the penalties. Once more.
Final yr, Dominic Livakovic was feeling the strain. Or so his captain Luka Modric sensed. Earlier than an important qualifying recreation for the world cup, in opposition to Russia, he would pull apart Livakovic.
“I wouldn’t be telling you that if I didn’t care, I really like you boy,” Luka Modric began. “That’s why I’m telling you. However I don’t see your progress within the nationwide crew. Possibly the strain bothers you? What does it matter in the event you make a mistake, as a result of everybody makes errors, why shouldn’t you? However my feeling is that you’re afraid to make a mistake,” Livakovic would later inform Sata 24 about what his captain instructed him then.
Livakovic would reply, “I wouldn’t have come right here if I used to be afraid of constructing a mistake.” That’s when Modric mentioned, “You’re the goalkeeper, are you aware that?” As if he have been making him conscious, and Modric would hug him.
“Luka is an actual captain. Everybody has ups and downs of their profession, it was a bit tough for me at that second, however while you discuss like that with the captain, when he offers you help, then it’s actually simpler,” Livakovic would look again at that second within the Russia recreation.
When the sport in opposition to Japan went to shootouts, did Modric felt this may very well be the tip – his last world cup recreation for Croatia?
“I by no means thought of it probably being my final recreation for Croatia, as a result of when it went to penalties I instructed everybody that Livakovic would save them,” Modric had mentioned.
On the finish of the Japan recreation, Livakovic would name his mom. “He solely known as me ‘mother’ and began crying and laughing,” his mom instructed Sata 24. She have to be readying for one more such name now, quickly.