After 120 minutes, it was 1-1, but Dominik Livaković became a hero during the performance of the 11-man squad, saving three shots from the Japanese in the penalty shoot-out.
Croatia will play in the quarter-finals on Friday, against the winner of the match between Brazil and South Korea, which is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended today's match at Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.