Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Croatia moved on to the knockout stage after three impressive performances. But what happens if they tie to Japan in the Round o 16?
Even though they are the reigning FIFA World Cup runners-up, people seem to continue to overlook Croatia. But a team that includes arguably the world’s best playmaker, Luka Modric, should never sleep.
The Croatians reached the knockout stage with 5 points after a disappointing draw with Morocco, then bounced back to beat Canada before finally earning another draw, this time with Belgium.
Japan secured their spot as group leaders with an impressive win over Germany, a loss to Costa Rica and then another big upset against Spain. It’s clear that this is a team that isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with the most prominent teams on Earth.
Qatar 2022: What If Croatia And Japan Tie In The Round Of 16?
One doesn’t have to be a savant to realize that this game could be closer to what most people think. Neither side has a big edge over the other, although oddsmakers slightly favor the Croatian side.
So, if this exciting game ends in a tie in the first 90 minutes, both teams will get a five-minute break before going back to the pitch for an additional 30 minutes, divided into 15-minute halves.
Should they still be tied at the end of overtime, then the winner will be settled with a penalty shootout. Each team will get at least five chances to score from the penalty spot. If both teams are still tied after that, teams will continue to get one kick each until the tie is broken.
