Japan vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar

Japan will face Croatia in the sixth match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16. The match will take place on Monday, December 5, at 20:30 IST. The football feast is gradually coming to an end as the playoffs progress, with some clubs returning home and others approaching the final. The Croatian national team reached the final four years ago but lost the deciding match against France. There is little question that Zlatko Dalic's team hopes to duplicate that success, and who knows, maybe even win the World Cup. The Japanese team is impeding progress. This squad has never advanced past the first round of the playoffs and is eager to do it this year. So why not? The Asians have already shocked and delighted their supporters on several occasions. 

In a group that featured Spain, Japan came out on top, defeating two of the tournament's elite teams, Germany and Spain. Croatia had goalless draws against Belgium and Morocco, which aided them greatly in their 4-1 victory over Canada. Such contributions offer us cause to anticipate a lively and engaging event. Everything you need to know about the forthcoming match.

Japan is now a squad to be feared, having topped the group of death at this year's World Cup. The Japanese's incredible efforts against strong teams like Spain and Germany allowed them to finish the group with six points and advance to the round of 16. The Samurai Blue's attitude and intensity have been the most striking aspects of their performance. They produced remarkable comebacks in each of their victories after surrendering first.

Croatians, on the other hand, cannot be dismissed under any circumstances. The Vatreni weren't at their best against the Belgians and were fortunate not to surrender.

Croatia is still undefeated in the World Cup and has been rather stunning with its offensive power at times. Despite erratic performances and defensive shakiness at times, Zlatko Dalic's players will undoubtedly give Japan a fight for their money in their next game.

Overview

So far, Japan is having a dream run at FIFA 2022. The giant killers trounced Germany, evicting the four-time world champions from the World Cup. The Samurai Blue also beat Spain, advancing to second place in the group. Croatia, on the other side, has been unbeaten throughout the campaign.

Teams

Japan

Japan won the group of death despite having never before defeated a World Cup winner. This time, they defeated two world champs in three days. Japan will be optimistic about their best World Cup campaign in history. Japan's great defensive effort was critical in overcoming Spain, and similar techniques might be used against Croatia. They were able to take advantage of the little openings they produced in that game, but this one may need extra time and even penalties.

Croatia

Surprisingly, defensive techniques have also succeeded for Zlatko Dali's club. The draw after 90 minutes looks like good value considering Croatia would undoubtedly be happy to hold Japan scoreless in this encounter. The 2018 runners-up are unbeaten in their past nine games, having won six and drawn three. Their latest setback came in June when Austria defeated them 3-0.

Head-to-Head

The rivalry between these two squads is highly fascinating. Japan and Croatia both won one match, while the other resulted in a tie.

Important Players

Croatia's primary players continue to be Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic. Japan's winger Ritsu Doan might get the opportunity since Ko Itakura will be punished for collecting a second yellow card.

Japan's Players to Watch

Ritsu Doan

The Freiburg midfielder was excellent and essential against both Japan and Germany, and he was instrumental in his country's victory. He has two goals in this competition so far and has been one of Japan's greatest performances in this World Cup. Aside from his goals, his passing and midfield prowess aid the club.

Croatia

Mateo Kovacic

Kovacic is a beast in the midfield, with great ball control and top-tier playmaking talents. Croatia takes advantage of his passive presence in both the offensive and defensive half of the game. His involvement will be vital against Japan as well, as Japan frequently leaves gaps in their defensive line, and with Kovacic's ability, Croatia may attempt to expose the Japanese.

Date, Time, and Location

The match between Japan and Croatia will take place on December 5 at 08:30 PM (Indian time) at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah.

Details about live-streaming

The match between Japan and Croatia will be aired live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD TV stations in India, and the game will be free to watch on Jio Cinema's app and website.

Prediction

Japan excels at playing the number two. They had relatively little control of the ball in their games against Germany and Spain, yet they won both. On the one hand, Japan has defeated two of the world's footballing behemoths in a similar fashion: tenacious defense in the first half, strong pressing, and quick counterattacks in the second. On the other hand, they lost a game that they should have won because they were the favorites. The Japanese will almost certainly be able to catch Zlatko Dalic's more powerful squad on the counterattack, but they are unlikely to surprise the vice-champion. In any event, the Draughtsmen are stronger and more experienced than their opponents.

Croatia will be well-prepared for well-thought-out scenarios, and their ability to respond to their opponent's strengths is exceptional. The Balkans have only surrendered one goal in the competition, and it came in the first half against Canada. In fact, scoring will be incredibly tough for the Japanese. Furthermore, neither team will take too many chances at the start, hoping to catch the opponent off guard.

Right now, the pair is about well-balanced in terms of strength, and the odds of winning are nearly equal for both sides - ideal conditions for both sides to exchange a flurry of deadly strikes in an attempt to prevail. The game will be exciting and entertaining, but there's a significant possibility it will conclude in a tie in regulation time.

We should all expect a high-scoring battle because both sides are attacking aggressively and will try to outscore the other. The game will be determined in the middle, with the team that wins the midfield fight over the other having an advantage.

Croatia will put a lot of pressure on the Japanese and have a lot of opportunities, but the Japanese will triumph over the Croatians. Their fast speed and high-intensity gameplay will help them dominate this Croatian team.

Croatia 2 - Japan 1 prediction