🛑LIVE Japan vs Croatia World Cup 2022 Timeline, Standing, H2H, Lineups, Betting Odds, Prediction, and More

Japan vs Croatia: Japan and Croatia meet in the Round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup on Monday. Japan qualified for the Round of 16 after winning Group E. They took six points from three games and defeated Germany (2-1). and Spain (2-1) in first place despite losing to Costa Rica (1-0). Canada (4-1) and goalless draws against Morocco and Belgium. They finished two points behind Morocco but, more importantly, one point behind Belgium.

First, in the game at Al Wakrah, Croatia is unbeaten in nine of their last ten World Cup games. Their only defeat in that run came four years ago in Russia when a Kylian Mbappé-inspired France secured a 4-2 win in the final. 

Coach Zlatko Dalić told reporters on Sunday that the country has performed excellently over the years and has become a force in world football. “Croatia has four million inhabitants, and the results we have achieved on the world stage are wonderful,” Dalić said per Reuters.

“We are constantly present at tournaments and World Championships, and that alone is a great success. We have become a global football power. While Croatia, unbeaten in Qatar, has never lost in the Round of 16 at their last two World Cups. games to date, Japan has never progressed past the Round of 16, suffering defeats in 2002, 2010, and 2018.

Japan vs Croatia World Cup 2022: Timeline

Japan vs Croatia game starts at 10 AM (ET) on Monday, 5th December 2022. It will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar.

Japan vs Croatia H2H

Can previous meetings between these two countries help us get an idea of ​​what might happen on Monday? Maybe not. They have met three times since 1997, with Japan winning a friendly 4-3 but losing to Croatia in the group stage at France in 1998. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the two teams drew 0-0. According to sports data company Gracenote, Croatia has a 58% chance of winning this game, while Japan’s chances are 42%. %.Croatia, however, is a possession-based team that could accommodate Japan as they beat Germany and Spain with 17.7% and 26.1% possession, respectively. 

Dalić added: “You will apply the philosophy of the samurai warrior. So do we. If we want to go further, we must apply the same attitude, do our best and never underestimate anyone. “Japan has the least possession in the world, but they are making a great transition. This is the most persistent and persistent opponent. You just don’t give up. We have a similar mentality, Japan and Croatia. We are at eye level.

Japan vs Croatia Team News

Japan can be presented with a double health enhancement in advance in their World Cup last-sixteen tie against Croatia today. Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu can be wanted from the outset following Ko Itakura’s suspension, aleven though the fulfillment Japan has loved in Qatar hasn’t usually come from individuals who start. Right-again Hiroki Sakai is likewise again in training, aleven through Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo has a muscle problem that would hold him sidelined.

Three of Japan’s 4 desires on the World Cup up to now had been scored with the aid of using substitutes, with the likes of Kaoru Mitoma and Takumo Asano capable of uploading more firepower while required. For Croatia, supervisor Zlatko Dalic has, in large part, loved a match freed from accidents up to now. While his crew has now no longer usually convinced, there has as a minimum, be a stage of continuity at some point of their campaign, some thing that proved vital of their run to 2018 final.

Japan National Football Team

The Samurai Blue have never won a World Cup but have been at it since they first qualified in France in 1998. They had reached the knockout stages twice: in Japan and South Korea in 2002, when they were eliminated against Turkey, and in Russia in 2018 when they lost to Belgium. Japan has 24-year-old Freiburg winger Ritsu Doan in action. He has contributed two goals in 131 minutes of football. Both goals came from free play. He fired three shots, two of them on target (66.67%), and completed three of five shots. He also managed to create three chances for his teammates.

Croatia National Football Team

The Checkered have never won the World Cup, but they reached the 2018 final in Russia and lost to France. They also reached the semi-finals of France 1998, again losing to France. Luka Modric plays in midfield for Croatia. The 37-year-old Real Madrid midfielder has won eight tickets in 266 minutes of football. That’s more than any of his teammates except Mateo Kovacic (also eight). He also earned six interceptions. However, Modric really shines on the ball. He completed 162 out of 187 attempted passes (86.63%). Forty-two of those were channeled into the last third, and 12 of those were long balls.

Japan National Football Team Standing

Croatia National Football Team Standing

Japan vs Croatia Predicted Line Up

Teams predicted line up for the Japan vs Croatia match is expected to be as follows:

Japan Predicted Line Up

Gonda; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, Yoshida; Ito; Morita, Tanaka, Nagatomo; Doan, Maeda, Kamada 

Croatia Predicted Line Up

Lakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Barisic; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic

Japan vs Croatia Betting Odds

Japan vs Croatia Moneyline

Japan +300 (bet $100 to win $300) | Croatia +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Draw +230 

Japan made the most of its opportunities at this World Cup. He converted 10 shots on goal into 4 goals in the group stage despite only having 5 successful crosses (bottom-placed Costa Rica had 3). Croatia has conceded only 1 goal, and only 7 shots on goal in Group F. Croatia came into this game with an 85% passing accuracy rate compared to 78.6% for Japan.

BET CROATIA (+105).

Japan vs Croatia Over/Under 

2.5 (O: +140 | U: -160)

As mentioned above, Croatia’s defense was quite good. If you feel like Japan could steal this game, the over could be valuable, but as long as Croatia can control this game, they won’t see many goals. However, Japan hasn’t scored in the first half yet, which gives all the more reason to go for Under. However, the line at -160 is so steep that it’s best to PASS.

Japan vs Croatia best bet

Pick: Japan to win either half

Odds: +150 (Caesars) 

I don’t trust Croatia to score more than one goal in this game, and therefore I think Japan should find a goal too. I love the extra chances of Samurai Blue winning in at least one of the two halves, although this game will be a war against a side slowing the ball, meaning Japan has few chances but could be prepared for a solid counterattack. Column bet 

Japan vs Croatia prop bet

Pick: Under 7.5 total corners.

Odds: TBD (BetMGM)

Note: Basic odds are generally not released until 24-48 hours before kick-off. This post will be updated when the odds are released. None of these teams consistently put down high corner numbers with well-aimed attacks from wide areas and balls down to the baseline. 

Japan is the joker, and sometimes they have more corner kicks than expected (they took six against Germany, for example), but they also laid a hen’s egg against Spain. Croatia, however, the team that is expected to retain a lot of possession, is a sluggish forward team that consistently fails to score great corners. With the European team trying to dictate the flow of the game, there is little danger to this total.

Japan vs Croatia flier bet

Croatia wins 1H / Japan wins 2H

Odds: +1000 (Caesars) 

Japan has already done it twice against European opponents, so why not a third time? Their first-half game plan against Germany and Spain was to go into half-time, and in doing so, they took significant pressure but conceded just one goal. After stunning their opponent, they came to life and hit the giant on the back of the ankle with a clean dart. 

It would be unforgivable for Croatia to fall into the same trap as there is now ample evidence of what their opponents can attempt, but Japan has clearly developed a game plan and is executing it well.

Japan vs Croatia Prediction

Croatia is expected to win the game.