JAPAN are facing Croatia in a huge World Cup last-16 clash RIGHT NOW – and they lead 1-0!
Celtic star Daizen Maeda has fired Japan ahead on the stroke of half-time.
While Arsenal ace Takehiro Tomiyasu came in to start for Japan in the crunch clash with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
- Kick-off: 3pm
- TV channel: BBC One
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer
- Japan XI: Gonda, Taniguchi, Endo, Doan, Morita, Nagatomo, J. Ito, Kamada, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Maeda
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Barisic, Perisic, Lovren, Kovacic, Kramaric, Modric, Brozovic, Petkovic, Gvardiol, Juranovic
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50 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Japan’s pressure continues thanks to their high lines on the pitch.
Croatia have yet to find an answer to the Samurai Blue’s amazing speed and pace
49 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Chance
Croatia register their first opportunity in the first half with a long-range shot by Kovacic that just misses Gonda’s right post
48 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Lovren creates a dangerous situation for his own team as his weak headed pass to Livakovic almost sees Maeda getting there.
But the Croatian goalkeeper just beats the Japanese striker to it
46 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Chance!
Japan knock on Croatia’s door early in the second half with Kamada’s long-range shot that just misses the crossbar
46 Japan 1-0 Croatia
No changes from either side as we get things under way in the second half.
Reminding you that Japan lead with Maeda’s opener
Japan 1-0 Croatia
Peep!
Off we go again in Qatar!!!
Word from the ground
Here’s what SunSport’s man on the field Andy Dillon makes of the first half between Japan and Croatia:
Celtic striker Daizen Maeda has fired Japan in front and the World Cup’s self-appointed Samurais bid to make history.
They have never been beyond the last 16 in seven appearances.
In a gritty game with a potential quarter-final pop at Brazil at stake, there were few chances.
Croatia look particularly jaded but it still took an error at a set-piece for Japan to take the lead.
Three minutes before half time, Japan had two corners in succession. The second resulted in an outswinging cross which appeared to rebound off the back of Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic.
The loose ball fell to Maeda who swept the ball in from close range on the turn for his first World Cup goal.
Andy Dillon
Japan vs Croatia stats
Croatia dominated 59 per cent of possession in the first half but struggled with Japan’s counter-attack.
The Croats registered three shots, but only one of them was on target.
The Samurai Blue also produced the same stats in terms of shooting in the first half.
More below:
HT: Japan 1-0 Croatia
Japan lead 1-0 against Croatia after an impressive first half at the Al Janoub Stadium.
The Samurai Blue broke the deadlock on 43 minutes with Daizen Maeda.
Wataru Endo delivered a cross from the right and captain Maya Yoshida got his foot in to set Maeda up in front of Dominik Livakovic.
The striker then beat the Croatian goalkeeper with a clinical shot to set up another potential upset for the Japanese
Credit: AP
HT: Japan 1-0 Croatia
Peep!
Half-time in Qatar!!!
45 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Two more minutes of stoppage time to go.
VAR had a look for a potential offside after Maeda’s goal but nothing’s there.
There was a suspicion that Yoshida was offside in the build-up but nothing there
43 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Japan have broken the deadlock just before half-time.
Endo delivers a cross from the right and Yoshida gets his foot in the way to set Maeda up in front of Livakovic whom he beats with a powerful shot!
43 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Goal!
Japan open the scoring with Maeda!!!
41 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Chance!
Japan break into a speedy counter-attack and Kamada tries a shot from a tight corner down the left but sends it over the crossbar
38 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Tempo has really slowed down in the last few minutes…
It looks like both teams just want to go back to the dressing room with a clean sheet
35 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Neither team has created any danger for a while now…
The crowd is becoming louder but it is not as intense on the pitch
33 Japan 0-0 Croatia
The ongoing rhythm seems to be working in Japan’s favour as they are not dealing with any significant threat.
The Samurai Blue are much more dangerous thanks – you guessed it – to their counter-attacks
30 Japan 0-0 Croatia
We’ve reached the half-hour mark and it’s still goalless.
Croatia still hold the possession but Japan are extremely dangerous on the counter-attack thanks to their speed
28 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Croatia are especially dangerous with long balls from midfield.
The front three are always where they are supposed to be as they know how to find space in Japan’s defence.
Perisic, Petkovic and Kramaric always know where Modric wants to send the ball
25 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Croatia’s possession-based game kills Japan’s rhythm in a very effective manner.
Sometimes it also allows them to find space, just now Gvardiol found Petkovic with a stunning long ball but the striker failed to finish
24 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Chance
Croatia ace Gvardiol gets to a good position for a shot but sends the ball all the way up to the cheap seats
23 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Gvardiol goes down after a challenge with Doan with what appears to be a groin issue.
But thankfully the Croatia ace gets back up to his feet
20 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Japan ace Ito has been dominant down the right wing thanks to his speed and low crosses.
Barisic has been struggling against the wing-back, Croatia are not finding an answer to the Japanese players’ speed
18 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Doan appears to be a bit out of his element, because he didn’t come on as a substitute.
Struggling against Croatia’s midfield trio of Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic
15 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Croatia are dominating 62 per cent of possession but Japan are creating the threats.
Some strong counter-attacks by Moriyasu’s men, who are especially dangerous down the wings
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
