Japan will be aiming to continue their incredible World Cup run by taking on Croatia in the Round of 16 in Qatar.
Samurai Blue beat former world champions Germany and Spain in the group stage to become unlikely group winners.
Hajime Moriyasu’s men come into this game after a 2-1 win over La Roja with goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka.
As for Croatia, their draw against Belgium knocked out the Red Devils by claiming second place in Group F.
Luka Modric and co have drawn two of their three games so far 0-0, with their only victory against Canada.
The winner of this huge clash will face Brazil or South Korea in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Japan vs Croatia: talkSPORT coverage
This round of 16 of the World Cup will take place on Monday, November 5.
The match at Al Janoub stadium will start at 3 p.m.
All the action will be live on talkSPORT, with Natalie Sawyer as host.
Commentary will be provided by Nigel Adderley and former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino.
talkSPORT World Cup 2022 coverage
talkSPORT brings you comprehensive coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
We broadcast all 64 matches of the tournament live, with over 600 hours of coverage on our network.
You can tune into talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com.
talkSPORT is widely available across the UK via DAB digital radio and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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Japan vs Croatia: Squads
Japan team
- Goalkeepers: Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt, Eiji Kawashima
- Defenders: Miki Yamane, Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Yuto Nagatomo, Yuta Nakayama
- Midfielders: Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka, Gaku Shibasaki, Kaoru Mitoma, Daichi Kamada, Ritsu Doan, Junya Ito, Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo, Yuki Soma
- Forwards: Daizen Maeda, Takuma Asano, Ayase Ueda
Croatia team
- Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic, Ivica Ivusic, Ivo Grbic
- Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Borna Barisic, Josip Juranovic, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanisic, Martin Erlic, Josip Šutalo
- Midfielders: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalić, Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Kristijan Jakic, Luka Sucic
- Forwards: Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Bruno Petkovic, Mislav Orsic, Ante Budimir, Marko Livaja
Japan vs Croatia: the facts of the match
- No player has scored more goals for Croatia at major tournaments (World Cup and Euros) than Ivan Perisic (9, tied with Davor Suker), while Perisic has more assists than any nation player (7). Indeed, during the 2022 World Cup, no player had more shots for Croatia than Perisic (5), while only Mateo Kovacic (5) created more chances for them than Perisic (4).
- Takuma Asano has attempted more shots than any Japanese player in the 2022 World Cup group stage (8), despite not starting any of their three games. Asano had one shot every 13 minutes on average.
- Three of Japan’s four goals scored at the 2022 World Cup have come from substitutes, the most ever in a single edition by an Asian nation (excluding own goals). Ritsu Doan scored two of those goals; only three players have scored more than 3 goals as a substitute in a single World Cup – André Schürrle in 2014 (3), Roger Milla in 1990 (4) and Laszlo Kiss in 1982 (3).
- Croatia failed to score in two of their three group stage matches at this World Cup; they had only had one blank in two of the tournament’s 13 matches in the 2006, 2014 and 2018 editions combined prior to that.
- Japan have averaged just 32.3% possession in their three group stage matches at this World Cup. Their two wins against Spain and Germany came with 17.7% and 26.1% possession respectively, while their only loss came in Costa Rica in a game where they had 56.8% possession.
- Croatia have lost just two of their eight World Cup knockout matches (W4 D2), while they have also progressed from the two such matches that ended in draws at the penalties, both in 2018 (against Denmark in the round of 16, Russia in the quarter-finals).
- This will be Croatia’s third World Cup round of 16 appearance, having progressed from this stage in the previous two, beating Romania 1-0 in 1998 and Denmark on penalties in 2018.
- Japan reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the fourth time, including in the last two editions. However, they never progressed from this stage, coming out in Turkey in 2002, Paraguay (on penalties) in 2010 and Belgium in 2018. The only Asian nations to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA Cup world were the DPR of Korea in 1966 and the Republic of Korea. in 2002.
- Japan have won both of their 2022 World Cup matches against European nations, 2-1 victories over Spain and Germany in the group stage. They had only won two of their first 10 World Cup matches against European sides before this year (D3 L5).
- This will be the third World Cup meeting between Japan and Croatia, with Japan having neither won nor scored in the previous two – a 0-1 loss in 1998 and a goalless draw in 2006, both in group stage. These two matches are Croatia’s only previous World Cup matches against an Asian nation.
Watch the World Cup with talkSPORT
At talkSPORT we’re powered by fans, so come join us for the ultimate World Cup fan experience this winter – in the talkSPORT fan zone.
In a huge covered room under the arches of Waterloo in London, we will bring you live screenings of every World Cup match.
There will be Q&A with talkSPORT talent, you’ll be part of our live shows and plenty of food and drink will be on offer too.
Come and have the best World Cup fan experience in London – and enjoy a complimentary pint – with tickets for all remaining matches on sale HERE!