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Japan vs Croatia and more 2022 World Cup news
Not many would have predicted that Japan would beat each Spain and Germany to high Group E in qualifying for the knockouts. However the group has been so spectacular that not many would now increase an eyebrow if the Samurai Blue had been to progress to the quarterfinals for the primary time in its historical past after they play towards Croatia — the 2018 World Cup finalist — within the Spherical of 16 on the Al Janoub Stadium at this time at 10 a.m. E.T.
Croatia is a group undefeated in 9 of its final 10 World Cup matches. Its solely loss in that run coming in Russia 4 years in the past when a Kylian Mbappé-inspired France secured a 4-2 win within the closing.
In the meantime, Japan has by no means progressed past the round-of-16, struggling defeat in 2002, 2010 and 2018.
Defender Yuto Nagatomo mentioned recollections of the defeat by Belgium 4 years in the past, when Japan let a 2-0 lead slip and misplaced to a stoppage-time objective, will drive the gamers on this time.
“I’ve by no means forgotten about that battle towards Belgium. Generally, scenes from the match abruptly come again to me and the final 4 years have been very robust,” the total again advised reporters Sunday. “However I believe we’ve grown mentally in addition to bodily and … so far as I can see, this group is the perfect and the strongest that has ever competed for Japan on the World Cup.”
Since 1997, Japan and Croatia have performed one another thrice, with Japan profitable a pleasant 4-3, however dropping to Croatia within the group stage at France 1998. On the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the 2 groups performed out a 0-0 draw.
Croatia is a possession-based group, which could go well with Japan given it beat Germany and Spain with 17.7% and 26.1% possession respectively.
Japan “will apply the samurai warrior philosophy. So will we. If we need to go additional, we should apply that very same perspective, do our greatest and by no means underestimate anybody,” Coach Zlatko Dalić mentioned. “Japan have the least ball possession on the planet, however they make nice transition. That is essentially the most perseverant, persistent opponent. They merely don’t surrender. We’ve got an analogous mentality, Japan and Croatia. We stand on equal floor.”