Croatian players celebrate after deafeating Japan during the World Cup round of 16 at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Monday. AP

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 Monday in Croatia's 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up in the 2018 tournament.

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

This time, Mario Pasalic converted the clinching penalty for Croatia after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.

Japan players are dejected after Croatia's win in the World Cup round of 16 match at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Monday. AP

Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida, and it was the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper who took most of the acclaim from the jubilant Croatia team after the shootout.
Croatia, beaten finalists against France in 2018, are led by midfield icon Luka Modric in his fourth and likely last World Cup.

Japan is appearing in the knockout stage for the fourth time and still searching for its first win. It rallied in group play to beat both Germany and Spain - two former world champions - 2-1 but also stumbled to a 1-0 loss against Costa Rica.

Croatia, the smallest country in the final 16 with a population of only 4 million, was the runner-up four years ago against France and finished third in 1998.