[골닷컴] Reporter Kang Dong-hun = With Japan challenging for the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in history, the starting line-up was announced ahead of the round of 16 match against Croatia. Doan Ritz (Freiburg), who was a ‘first class contributor’ in defeating the German ‘Tank Corps’ and the Spanish ‘Invincible Armada’, will start.
Japan will play the round of 16 in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar against Croatia held at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar at 0:00 am (Korea time) on the 6th. It is a single game, and if the game is not decided within regular time, it goes to overtime, and if the score is still level after that, the penalty kick determines the progression to the quarter finals.
An hour before the game, the starting line-up was announced. The head coach Hajime Moriyasu (Japan) predicted a defensive campaign by eliminating a 3-4-3 formation as in the previous game against Spain. Up front, Doan, Daizen Maeda (Celtic), and Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt) will play as a top three team.
Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Wataru Endo (Stuttgart), Hidemasa Morita (Sport) and Junya Ito (Stade de Reims) form the back. Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale), Maya Yoshida (Shalke 04), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) formed the defensive line. The goal is guarded by Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse).
Against this, coach Zlatko Daric (Croatia) took a 4-3-3 formation. Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb) and Andrei Kramaric (Hoffenheim) will play as a top three. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) and Luka Modric (Real Madrid) protect their backs.
From left, Borna Barisic (Rangers), Joshko Gbardiol (Leipzig), Dejan Lovren (Zenit) and Josip Yuranovic (Celtic) form the back four. Goalkeeper gloves are worn by Dominic Rivakovic (Dinamo Zagreb).
The two teams have faced each other 3 times in total, showing a tight balance with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. The most recent conflict dates back 16 years. We faced each other in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but at the time it was impossible to pick a winner.
