WORLD CUP PREVIEW Mon: Japan v Croatia

When they were placed in a group with Spain and Germany, nobody expected Japan to get out of it – let alone as group winners – but here we are.

After taking six points from their three group matches, Japan are into the knockout stages of the World Cup for just the fourth time and will be hoping to make history against Croatia on Monday night by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

The final game of their Group E campaign was as dramatic as they come. After going behind against Spain, it was assumed that their World Cup dream was coming to an end but – just like against Germany – a second-half surge saw them score two goals and turn the whole group on its head.

Goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka were enough for Japan to be able to continue their World Cup dream and, in the process, end Germany’s who were eliminated at the group-stage for the second time in a row.

Manager Hajime Moriyasu will be forced into a change for this last-16 clash against Croatia with Ko Itakura picking up his second yellow card of the tournament against Spain. Luckily, they have Takehiro Tomiyasu who is more than capable of coming in and taking his place.

Traders’ view: “Japan very unpredictable and did exceptionally well to win their group. Don’t think they will fear Croatia at all.”

Japan v Croatia
FIFA World Cup 2022 Last-16
15:00 BBC One / BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport Website

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
JUN 1997 KIRIN JAPAN CUP Japan 4-3 Croatia
JUN 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP Japan 0-1 Croatia
JUN 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP Japan 0-0 Croatia

JAPAN
JUN 2022 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Japan 4-1 Paraguay
JUN 2022 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Japan 0-1 Brazil
NOV 2022 WORLD CUP Germany 1-2 Japan
NOV 2022 WORLD CUP Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
DEC 2022 WORLD CUP Japan 2-1 Spain

CROATIA
SEP 2022 NATIONS LEAGUE Austria 1-3 Croatia
NOV 2022 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Saudi Arabia 0-1 Croatia
NOV 2022 WORLD CUP Morocco 0-0 Croatia
NOV 2022 WORLD CUP Croatia 4-1 Canada
DEC 2022 WORLD CUP Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Romelu Lukaku should be on Croatia’s Christmas card list this year with the Belgian missing a plethora of guilt-edged opportunities to send Roberto Martinez’s side through in the final match in Group F.

However, it wasn’t meant to be for the former Chelsea striker or the Red Devils as they crashed out at the group-stage just four years after finishing third in Russia with Croatia the side to snatch second-place behind Morocco.

Although there have been times where it has been tough for them so far at this World Cup, Croatia have now extended their unbeaten run to nine matches which is exactly the kind of form you would want to go into this match in.

Croatia have already faced Japan twice before at the finals of the World Cup and beat them in the tournament in 1998. They will be hoping to do that again on Monday night.

Zlatko Dalic’s side have a fully-fit squad to pick from, but will be praying that midfield maestro Luka Modric – who is still absolutely instrumental in the Croatia midfield – avoids a yellow card as he will miss the quarter-finals – should they get here – if he picks up a booking here.

Considering the quality in attack both of these sides possess, there is potential for a lot of goals in this one and I like the look of over 2.5 goals at 5/4 for that reason.

For a higher value, Croatia winning the first half with Japan coming back and turning it around in the second half – which you can get at 35/1 with starsports.bet – as Japan have already done this twice already at this tournament.

JOE CITRONE

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RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Over 2.5 goals 3pts at 5/4 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Half Time Full Time – Croatia-Japan 1pt at 35/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (WORLD CUP 2022): LOSS 23.83 points (after matches on Sun 4 Dec, includes TWO GOOD bonus on CAMEROON v SERBIA 28 Nov)
(Will include returns from both the OUTRIGHT and SPECIALS previews too)

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