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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Japan 1-0 Croatia
Peep!
Off we go again in Qatar!!!
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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 DillonSunSport
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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:
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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 - Kostas Lianos
HT: Japan 1-0 Croatia
Peep!
Half-time in Qatar!!!
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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
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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!
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43 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Goal!
Japan open the scoring with Maeda!!!
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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12 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Chance
Japan continue to create threats with Ito delivering a low cross from the right and the incoming Maeda just missing the ball.
Nagatomo also tries to get to it in the far post but just misses out
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10 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Croatia are holding the ball trying to dominate possession and tempo, as expected.
The Croats want to neutralise Japan's high pressure by looking for open spaces at the back
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8 Japan 0-0 Croatia
What a chance!
Japan ace Tomiyasu commits an unbelievable error as his weak back pass is picked up by Perisic down the left.
The Croatia star tries a shot that is blocked by Gonda, Kramaric gets the ball in the area but there are too many Japanese defenders on him and fails to finish
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7 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Here's how the two teams look like today in Qatar:
Croatia in their signature red-and-white chequered shirt while Japan are all in blue
Credit: Reuters - Kostas Lianos
5 Japan 0-0 Croatia
Japan have started strong with immense press up high.
The Samurai Blue are going for the same style that helped them beat Germany and Spain.
No surprise there…
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