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Japan vs Croatia Tips - Value on Croatia at the World Cup

ralph-staniforth
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Last updated: 04 Dec 2022
Ralph Staniforth 04 Dec 2022
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  • Japan vs Croatia predictions for Monday’s World Cup match
  • The Round of 16 game is being played at Al Janoub Stadium (15:00 GMT)
  • Croatia have won 6 of their last 8 matches
  • Can Japan keep upsetting the odds in Qatar?
  • Preview, predictions, stats & tips
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Japan croatia 2006 world cup
Croatia last met Japan at the 2006 World Cup (Getty)

Japan vs Croatia Preview


Japan beat Germany and Spain in the group stage despite having less than 26% possession in each victory. Croatia have been strong defensively at the World Cup which can make the difference here.
  • Japan vs Croatia Preview
  • Head to Head
  • Japan Form
  • Japan Squad
  • Croatia Form
  • Croatia Squad
  • Japan vs Croatia FAQ

  • Japan have lost 3 of their last 5 matches (World Cup).
  • Japan have never made it past the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
  • Croatia have won 6 of their last 8 matches.
  • Croatia have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 4 matches.

Head to Head


These teams have met twice in competitive matches, both in the group stage at the World Cup.

Croatia won 1-0 in 1998 before a 0-0 draw in 2006.

Japan Form


Japan opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win against Germany. Down 1-0 at half time, they turned it around with Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano on target.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side then suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Costa Rica despite having 13-4 shots including 3-1 on target.

Samurai Blue overcame the odds to defat Spain 2-1 in their final group game. The conceded in the 12th minute, Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka scoring shortly after half time in a match where they had 18% possession.

Japan Squad


Pos.
Player
D.O.B. (age)
Caps
Goals
Club
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
GK Eiji Kawashima 20 March 1983 (age 39) 95 0 Strasbourg
GK Shūichi Gonda 3 March 1989 (age 33) 37 0 Shimizu S-Pulse
GK Daniel Schmidt 3 February 1992 (age 30) 11 0 Sint-Truiden
DF Miki Yamane 22 December 1993 (age 28) 16 2 Kawasaki Frontale
DF Shogo Taniguchi 15 July 1991 (age 31) 15 0 Kawasaki Frontale
DF Ko Itakura 27 January 1997 (age 25) 16 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
DF Yuto Nagatomo 12 September 1986 (age 36) 141 4 FC Tokyo
DF Takehiro Tomiyasu 5 November 1998 (age 24) 31 1 Arsenal
DF Hiroki Sakai 12 April 1990 (age 32) 73 1 Urawa Red Diamonds
DF Maya Yoshida (captain) 24 August 1988 (age 34) 125 12 Schalke 04
DF Hiroki Ito 12 May 1999 (age 23) 7 0 VfB Stuttgart
MF Wataru Endo 9 February 1993 (age 29) 46 2 VfB Stuttgart
MF Gaku Shibasaki 28 May 1992 (age 30) 60 3 Leganés
MF Ritsu Dōan 16 June 1998 (age 24) 32 5 SC Freiburg
MF Kaoru Mitoma 20 May 1997 (age 25) 12 5 Brighton & Hove Albion
MF Takumi Minamino 16 January 1995 (age 27) 46 17 Monaco
MF Takefusa Kubo 4 June 2001 (age 21) 22 1 Real Sociedad
MF Hidemasa Morita 10 May 1995 (age 27) 18 2 Sporting CP
MF Junya Ito 9 March 1993 (age 29) 41 9 Reims
MF Daichi Kamada 5 August 1996 (age 26) 25 6 Eintracht Frankfurt
MF Ao Tanaka 10 September 1998 (age 24) 17 2 Fortuna Düsseldorf
MF Yuki Soma 25 February 1997 (age 25) 9 4 Nagoya Grampus
FW Takuma Asano 10 November 1994 (age 28) 40 8 VfL Bochum
FW Shuto Machino 30 September 1999 (age 23) 4 3 Shonan Bellmare
FW Ayase Ueda 28 August 1998 (age 24) 12 0 Cercle Brugge
FW Daizen Maeda 20 October 1997 (age 25) 10 1 Celtic

Defender Yuta Nakayama and forward Yuya Osako were not called up due to injury.

Centre back Ko Itakura is suspended which should see Takehiro Tomiyasu get the start.

Takumi Minamino has scored 17 goals in 46 internationals.

Croatia Form


Croatia are undefeated in 21 of their last 22 matches. They topped Group H in the World Cup qualifiers, winning seven of their 10 matches with one defeat.

Zlatko Dalic’s side started their World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against Morocco despite having 65% possession.

The Blazers bounced back with a 4-1 win against Canada after falling behind early, Andrej Kramaric scoring two goals alongside strikes to Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer.

Croatia ended the group stage with a 0-0 draw against Belgium. They had 4-3 shots on target and held on under late pressure.

Croatia Squad


Pos.
Player
D.O.B. (age)
Caps
Goals
Club
GK Dominik Livaković 9 January 1995 (age 27) 37 0 Dinamo Zagreb
GK Ivo Grbić 18 January 1996 (age 26) 2 0 Atlético Madrid
GK Ivica Ivušić 1 February 1995 (age 27) 5 0 Osijek
DF Josip Stanišić 2 April 2000 (age 22) 7 0 Bayern Munich
DF Borna Barišić 10 November 1992 (age 30) 28 1 Rangers
DF Martin Erlić 24 January 1998 (age 24) 4 0 Sassuolo
DF Dejan Lovren 5 July 1989 (age 33) 75 5 Zenit Saint Petersburg
DF Borna Sosa 21 January 1998 (age 24) 11 1 VfB Stuttgart
DF Joško Gvardiol 23 January 2002 (age 20) 15 1 RB Leipzig
DF Domagoj Vida (vice-captain) 29 April 1989 (age 33) 100 4 AEK Athens
DF Josip Juranović 16 August 1995 (age 27) 24 0 Celtic
DF Josip Šutalo 28 February 2000 (age 22) 3 0 Dinamo Zagreb
MF Lovro Majer 17 January 1998 (age 24) 14 4 Rennes
MF Mateo Kovačić 6 May 1994 (age 28) 87 3 Chelsea
MF Luka Modrić (captain) 9 September 1985 (age 37) 158 23 Real Madrid
MF Marcelo Brozović 16 November 1992 (age 30) 80 7 Internazionale
MF Nikola Vlašić 4 October 1997 (age 25) 44 7 Torino
MF Mario Pašalić 9 February 1995 (age 27) 46 7 Atalanta
MF Luka Sučić 8 September 2002 (age 20) 4 0 Salzburg
MF Kristijan Jakić 14 May 1997 (age 25) 4 0 Eintracht Frankfurt
FW Ivan Perišić 2 February 1989 (age 33) 119 32 Tottenham Hotspur
FW Andrej Kramarić 19 June 1991 (age 31) 77 22 1899 Hoffenheim
FW Marko Livaja 26 August 1993 (age 29) 17 4 Hajduk Split
FW Bruno Petković 16 September 1994 (age 28) 25 6 Dinamo Zagreb
FW Ante Budimir 22 July 1991 (age 31) 15 1 Osasuna
FW Mislav Oršić 29 December 1992 (age 29) 23 1 Dinamo Zagreb

Croatia have no injury concerns or suspensions.

Andrej Kramarić has scored 22 goals in 77 internationals.

Japan vs Croatia FAQ

Where can I watch the Japan vs Croatia live stream?

Check our live streaming calendar to see where to watch the Japan vs Croatia live stream.

Verdict

Japan surprised many in the group stage where they beat Germany and Spain. Their luck is set to run out against a Croatia side that have been defensively solid at the World Cup.

Best Bet: Croatia Win Full Time Result $2.05 at Bet.co.za - 5 Units
Value Bet: Croatia Win To Nil $3.30 at Sportingbet SA - 1 Unit
First Goalscorer Tip: Andrej Kramaric First Goalscorer $7.00 at Bet.co.za - 1 Unit
Correct Score Tip: Croatia Win 1-0 Correct Score $7.00 at Bet.co.za - 1 Unit
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Croatia
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Bet at Bet.co.za
Croatia Win 1-0
Correct Score
$7.00 - 1 Unit
R5,000 bonus
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18+ only. T&Cs apply. New customers only. Email must be verified prior to participation. Min deposit R50. Max bonus amount R5000. Exclusive offer when you use the bet.co.za promo code NEWBONUS.

Bet at Bet.co.za

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