Japan will dazzle Croatia in their quarter-final battle - a prediction two weeks ago that would have been dismissed as 'crazy'. A football powerhouse like Germany-Spain, is it a crazy idea to top them in the knockout phase of the group?
But the Land of the Rising Sun has literally risen the new sun in Asian football. Samurai Bluera entered the last 16 by becoming the group champion. The team that changed all the equations take on the last World Cup runners-up Croatia tonight at the Al Janub Stadium.
Croatia is ahead on paper but the reality is different here too. The two teams have met three times so far. Equilibrium prevails with one win, one loss and one draw. If you think about it another way, Japan is ahead by the thinnest margin after showing one surprise after another in this epic World Cup. The team that spread the beacon of discipline valiantly made it to the last sixteen, but the Croats had to dig and burn a lot of wood.
However, the history of another party will be enriched by the farewell of one party today. Croatia, however, can take courage from the World Cup. Although the two teams could not be separated in the face-to-face match, Croatia never lost to Japan in the World Cup. The Croats left the field with full points thanks to the goal of the top scorer in their history in the 1998 tournament, Devor Sukar. And eight years later the match ended goalless. Both were group stage matches.
Everyone will look to Luka Modric to see Croatia take another step forward. The 37-year-old Real Madrid star was named the player of the year at the previous World Cup. He also won the man of the match award twice in Qatar. Josip Uranovic also has full confidence in the captain. "Modric is going to set an example for young players," the Croatian defender said at the press conference. Seeing him run and give his all on the field gives extra energy to the rest of the body. We are looking forward to playing (against Japan).'
Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic sees a tough fight today. Said, 'After Spain scored the first goal (in the group stage match), I thought Japan was finished. But they did not give up. The elimination of Germany, Belgium, Denmark proves that every team is strong.'
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, however, is not floating in the current. In his voice, he assured everyone in the team to take the Croat-challenge calmly. If there is a draw, the match will go to extra time and even a tiebreaker. We have to be prepared for everything.'
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