- Croatia win by 3-1 against Japan, in panalty shootout.
- Outcome of match between Japan and Croatia will now be decided through the penalties.
- Match ends in a draw. Outcome will now be decided in the extra-time.
- Croatia finally open their account and level scores with Japan. Ivan Perisic receives a pass from Dejan Lovren and unleashes a header towards the target, to give his side their first breakthrough.
- Japan finally open their score tally with Daizen Maeda producing a low shot, which dodges the goalkeeper and hits the target. Japan take 1-0 lead over Croatia in the 45th minute.
Japan take on Croatia in the fifth Round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2022, at Al Janoub Stadium on Monday.
Japan ended as the Group E toppers after defeating Spain and Germany. Meanwhile, Croatia also had a decent outing in the group stage, where they remained unbeatable with one win and two draws. Both the teams will look to put their best foot forward in order to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Samurai surprise? Game on
Japan’s sensational smash-and-grab raids at the World Cup have already seen off Germany and Spain. But in the last-16 clash at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah on Tuesday, they come up against a Croatia side who might just be a little too streetwise for a mugging.
Croatia have not shown the quality that got them to the final four years ago, especially in front of goal, but did what they needed to do to get through their group, only showing any signs of panic in their last game against a desperate Belgium.
Croatia squad
Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Barisic; Brozovic, Kovacic, Modric; Petkovic, Kramaric, Perisic.
Subs: Grbic, Ivusic, Erlic, Majer, Vlasic, Livaja, Pasalic, Budimir, Orsic, Vida, Sutalo, Sucic, Jakic.
Japan squad
Japan: Gonda; Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Taniguchi; Ito, Morita, Junya, Nagatomo; Doan, Maeda, Kamada.
Subs: Kawashima, Mitoma, Saai, Hato, Schmidt, Minamino, Machino, Yamane, Tanaka, Ueda, Shibasaki, Asano, Soma.
Injury-hit Brazil get timely Neymar boost
Neymar is set to play for Brazil in their World Cup last-16 clash against South Korea at Stadium 974 on Monday after recovering from an ankle injury, coach Tite said.
Neymar suffered the injury in Brazil’s opening 2-0 win over Serbia, which ruled him out of their remaining two group-stage games versus Switzerland and Cameroon.
