Japan vs Croatia Match Preview

Japan and Croatia play in this knock-out game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Japan won their group outclassing Germany and Spain, a really impressive outcome, given that Spain and Germany are among the top teams in the world. Japan won against both of them but surprisingly lost to Costa Rica. They will meet Croatia now, not the toughest opponent in the world, but it will not be an easy task at all. 

Croatia ended up being second in their group. They participated in a tough group and proved they have a really strong squad with players like Gvardiol, Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic, and Perisic. They are reigning runner-ups from the last World Cup and I expect them to win this match because of the quality of their players.

Japan showed good form in this tournament but maybe this match will be too much for them. It is crucial for Croatia to contain Japan's counterattacks and manage their energy and in that situation, the individual quality of players like Modric, Guardiol, and Perisic can be decisive.