JAPAN VS CROATIA
Japan take to the field today for the pre-quarter match, aiming to continue its impressive run at the World Cup.
Their opponents are Croatia in the match which will be held at the Al Janub Stadium at 8.30 PM IST. Japan entered the pre-quarters at top of Group E after defeating giants Spain and Germany.
Japan is the first team to upset 2 former world champions in the group stage. Croatia, on the other hand, comes from Group F as runners-up behind Morocco. Croatia's surge was behind strong Belgium. Captain Luka Modric is the strength of the team. They also have talented players like Perisic, Kramaric, Kovacic and Brozovic. However, Croatia will head into the field with confidence and Japan with the confidence of beating the giants.
The winners of today's match will face the winners of the Brazil-South Korea match in the quarter-finals. Anyway, it remains to be seen if Japan can continue the coup or if Croatia stops it.
WIN PROBABILITY
Croatia :- 47%
Japan :- 24%
Draw :- 29%
MATCH SCHEDULE
Date:- 5/12/2022
Time:- 8.30 AM (IST)
Venue:- Al Janoub Stadium
INSIGHTS
1) Japan won both of its matches against European nations at the 2022 World Cup, including 2-1 wins over Spain and Germany in the group stage.
2) Japan reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the fourth time, including the last two editions. However, he went to Turkey in 2002, Paraguay in 2010 (on penalties) and Belgium in 2018. In 1966, DPR Korea and the Republic of Korea were the only Asian countries to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. In 2002.
3) This is Croatia's third appearance in the Round of 16 at the World Cup, having advanced from this stage on both previous occasions, beating Romania 1-0 on penalties in 1998 and Denmark in 2018.
4) Croatia has lost only two of their eight knockout stage games at the World Cup (W4 D2), while they have advanced from two such games that ended in a draw on penalties, both in 2018 (Round of 16 vs. Denmark, Russia. Quarter Final).
