52 expected goals and 0. 63 xGOT, again per fotmob. com. Plus, I worry that the Croatian defense is slightly worse than Spain’s defense, a team against which Japan already outclassed. In their last match against Belgium, the Croatian backline allowed 3. 07 expected goals and five big scoring chances.
The 2018 runners-up were far from convincing during the group stages but did enough to secure second spot in Group F behind surprise group winners Morocco. Their draw against Belgium was their second of the tournament and ensured they finished the group stage with an unbeaten record, winning one and drawing two of their three games. The winner of the game will secure progress to the quarterfinals, where either Brazil or South Korea will lie in wait. Japan vs Croatia Head-to-Head and Key Numbers This will be the third time that both sides square off at the World Cup. They were grouped together in Group F in 2006 and played out a goalless draw en route to both sides' elimination at the group stage. They also squared off in Group H in 1998 when Croatia claimed a 1-0 win before finishing in third spot in their maiden appearance at the World Cup. Japan are seeking to qualify for the quarterfinal of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Can Japanese knock off another European foe? Japan players jubilate at the end of the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. Japan won 2-1. The Associated Press Ahead of Monday’s round of 16 clash, we’re here to offer our FIFA World Cup predictions for Japan vs. Croatia. The Blue Samurai arrive at this point as the winners of a loaded Group E. Most recently, Japan pulled off a shock upset of Spain to secure their status in the knockouts.
Croatia are on a nine-game unbeaten run, having not lost an international game since their 3-0 defeat to Austria in the UEFA Nations League. Japan's four goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup have come courtesy of substitutes (three goals and one assist). Croatia have made it to the semifinal on each of the previous two occasions when they progressed from the group stage. Three of Croatia's last four World Cup knockout games have gone to extra time and they fell behind on each of those three occasions before eventually winning.
How to watch Japan vs Croatia on TV & live stream - World Cup round of 16Shock Group E winners Japan come up against Group F runners-up Croatia in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The Samurai Blue stunned the world to finish top ahead of Spain and Germany, both of whom they beat on their way to the knockout stages. Croatia, the unlikely runners-up in 2018, have yet to really kick into gear against tougher opposition this tournament, and are largely at this stage thanks to Romelu Lukaku's horror show on matchday three. Here's how you can watch Japan vs Croatia on TV and streaming services.
The Blue Samurai have perfected the art of finishing games strongly, having scored all four goals in this tournament after the break. This trait could come in handy against a Croatian side that have perfected the art of going the distance in tournament knockout games. But history suggests that this could be a low-scoring game. We are backing both sides to cancel each other out in regulation time, with Croatia to progress thanks to a narrow victory in extra time.
And if Japan can pull off that high-wire act against Germany and Spain -- two of the best teams in this field -- they should be able to compete with Croatia, who are not in the same tier as either Die Mannschaft or La Furia Roja. » READ MORE: World Cup 2022: Latest odds to win the tournamentCroatia’s best path to success is for the 37-year-old Luka Modric to control the game, but his influence can be muted against a Japanese team that should put a ton of pressure on the ball and make this a frenetic, frenzied encounter.
Japan vs Croatia live stream: How to watch World Cup 2022
Japan vs Croatia Prediction and Betting Tips - Sportskeeda
Japan vs Croatia: TV Channel, how and where to watch or live
On the flip-side, Croatia advanced as runners-up of Group F and played to a 0-0 draw with Belgium in their last match. Find BetMGM’s top offers for December. Currently, Croatia is a +110 favorite to win this game in regular time while Japan sits at +270 on the three-way moneyline. In the “to advance” market, Croatia is -190 while Japan is +138. Croatia vs. Japan Best Bet Japan to Advance (+138) I’m not normally one to double-down on a pre-tournament future, but this price on Japan is too good to pass up. While a loss to Group E cellar-dwellers Costa Rica is definitely a concern, Japan’s tactics in this match will benefit the way they hope to play. When Japan is forced to dominate possession, they tend to struggle, but when they’re allowed to sit back and counter, they thrive. In two games against Germany and Spain, the Blue Samurai held 26 percent and 18 percent possession, respectively.
That will not sit well with the Checkered Ones, who are a technically gifted, but slow-moving team. Croatia wants this game to stay on script, but as we’ve seen in all three of their matches, you can just shred the script when it comes to Japan. Even though they progressed in a competitive group featuring Morocco, Belgium and Canada, Croatia have really looked pedestrian outside of their 4-1 dismantling of the Canadians.
Alvaro Morata's 11th-minute header put the 2010 world champions ahead and seemingly on course for a routine win. But a resurgent start to the second half saw Hajiye Moriyasu's side score two quickfire goals in the space of three minutes to turn the group on its head. Ritsu Doan leveled matters three minutes after coming on, while Ao Tanaka put Japan ahead in the 51st minute with a controversial goal that was initially ruled out before the intervention of the VAR. The win saw them become only the third side in World Cup history to win two games at a single tournament in which they were losing at halftime. Croatia, for their part, put up a dogged performance to hold a star-studded Belgium side to a goalless draw in their final group game.
2022 FIFA World Cup R16 Croatia Vs Japan - FirstSportz
World Cup predictions, picks: Japan vs. CroatiaPerhaps no team has caused more of a stir at the 2022 World Cup than Japan. Samurai Blue bookended a brutal defeat to Costa Rica with stunning upsets against Germany and Spain to top Group E in the most absurd fashion. Japan now turns its sights onto another European power, Croatia, in the Round of 16 on Monday morning. Samurai Blue is a +300 underdog on the three-way moneyline and is +154 to advance. Japan vs. Croatia prediction: PickJapan to advance +154 (FanDuel)Japan vs.
However, they created 1. 77 and 1. 27 expected goals on target (xGOT), respectively, according to fotmob. com. Now, they get to face a Croatia side that didn’t accomplish much offensively when they were forced to play with the majority of the ball. In their lone group fixture in which they held more than 50 percent of the ball (vs. Morocco), the 2018 finalists generated only 0.
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Bet $5 Win $150 if your team wins on DraftKings Japan vs Croatia Prediction Croatia were one of the dark horses coming into Qatar but the 2018 runners-up have not set the stage alight. It could be a matter of Zlatko Dalic's side growing into the tournament, with the world's 12th highest-ranked side still possessing numerous world beaters in their ranks. Japan have been one of the revelations of the tournament, with victories over global heavyweights Spain and Germany highlighting that the Asians are no pushovers.
Croatia prediction: AnalysisAs we’ve already seen in this tournament, Japan can beat anybody and lose to anybody on any given day. In their performances against Germany and Spain, Samurai Blue sat back and waited for their moments, but against Costa Rica it was Japan that had most of the ball and it was clear that was a role they were not all that comfortable playing. But against Croatia, a team that profiles similarly to Spain in the fact that they want to be on the ball and let their midfield control the tempo, Japan should be able to play their preferred style, which is to cause turnovers high up the pitch and spring counterattacks to create their best scoring chances.
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