‘Killer’ of favorites, Japan takes on Croatia for best World Cup in its history

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Contrary to predictions, Japan defeated two world champions in the Qatar Cup. First Germany fell; then Spain. In both games, comeback victories, built in the second half, with the participation of reserves.

Champions of Group E, with high morale, the “blue samurai” will take to the field this Monday (5), at 12h (Brasília time), in search of one more surprise: defeating Croatia, vice-champion of the Cup 2018 in Russia.

Should Japan achieve this feat again, it will reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup for the first time. The Asian team participates in its seventh Cup. Since its debut, in 1998, it has never failed to be present and has fallen in the round of 16 three times (2002, at home, 2010 and 2018).

At the Russian World Cup, Japan had a big disappointment in the first knockout: they opened 2-0 against Belgium and allowed the turnaround.

Left winger Nagatomo, 36, recalling that moment in an interview on the eve of the duel with the Croatians, said he believed that this time there was no chance of it happening again.

“We’ve grown mentally and physically since 2018. For me, this year’s Japan team is the strongest in history.”

I have to be honest, I didn’t expect it, actually nobody did [a performance do Japão]🇧🇷 The most important thing in football is courage and heart, and in that sense they deserved it. [se classificar]

In Qatar, the goal to qualify Japan for the round of 16 came in a controversial move, as television cameras showed that the ball had left the bottom line before Mitoma crossed for Tanaka to make 2 to 1 in Spain.

Supported by technology, Fifa said that the arbitration awarded the goal because part of the ball was on the line – it did not convince many people, even after showing an explanatory video.

Character present in this controversy, Mitoma is one of the players who came from the bench and stood out. The equalizing goal against the Spaniards was by Doan, another one who had entered the break.

On their debut, the Germans were victims of the same Doan and Asano, who had come off the bench and left their marks in goalkeeper Neuer’s net.

It is possible that Doan, the top scorer of the Japanese national team in Qatar, will win a chance from coach Hajime Moriyasu and start the match against Croatia, at the Al Janoub stadium, in Al Wakrah.

On the side of the Europeans, the bets are on the defense, which only conceded one goal in three matches, and in the leadership of its captain and number 10, the experienced Luka Modric, 37, record player (158) for the Balkans national team.

The Real Madrid midfielder, voted the best player of the 2018 World Cup and also the best in the world that year, is playing his fourth and final World Cup. With him, Croatia has excellence in organization and creation.

Unlike the Japanese, the Croatians, despite a rout (4-1 in Canada) and invincibility (this victory and two 0-0), did not get excited so far in Qatar.

In the third game of the group stage, they almost lost to Belgium –Lukaku wasted great chances–, which would mean early elimination.

Coach Zlatko Dalic wants his team to keep possession of the ball most of the time, which on the one hand allows, theoretically, to create more goal chances, on the other hand it gives the opponent possibilities to counterattack, which requires care. due to the speed of the Asians.

“On the counterattacks, the Japanese arrive in the area with five or six players. We can’t sleep on the point”, said the Croatian coach.

Those who pass from Japan x Croatia will face on Friday (9), to try to reach the semifinals, with the winner of Brazil x South Korea, who also play for the round of 16 this Monday, at 16h.

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