Japan v Croatia, 05 December 2022

Kick-off: 6.00pm local (3.00pm GMT) . FIFA world ranking: Japan 24, Croatia 12 . Croatia won 3-1 on penalties . After extra time - 1-1 at 90 minutes. . This was the third meeting at the World Cup finals. A goalless draw in 2006 in Nuremberg followed Croatia’s 1-0 win in 1998 in Nantes (both group games). These were Croatia’s only two previous games against Asian nations at the World Cup. . Korea DPR in 1966 and Korea Republic in 2002 remain as the only Asian nations to reach the Quarter-finals of the World Cup. . Japan had lost their three previous games in the Round of 16 at the World Cup; against Turkey (2002), Paraguay (2010) and Belgium (2018). . Japan had now won four of their 13 games against European nations at the World Cup; against Russia (2002), Denmark (2010) and both Germany and Spain in this tournament (all group games). . Substitutes scored three of Japan’s five goals at this tournament; the most at a World Cup finals by an Asian nation. . Daizen Maeda’s goal was the first time that Japan had scored the opening goal in a game at this World Cup tournament. . Yūto Nagatomo had now made 15 appearances at the World Cup finals. HONG Myung-bo of Korea Republic was now the only player from an Asian nation to play in more games at the tournaments (16). . Croatia progressed from both of their previous appearances in the Round of 16 at the World Cup; 1-0 versus Romania in 1998 and Denmark on penalties in 2018 after a 1-1 draw. . Croatia had now lost one of their last six games at the World Cup finals when they conceded the first goal (five wins included three on penalties). . Croatia had now won seven of their nine knockout games at World Cup finals (including three on penalties in 2018). . With his tenth goal, Ivan Perišić became Croatia’s leading scorer at major tournaments (World Cup and UEFA European Championship); previously Davor Suker (nine). . Extra time had now been played in seven of Croatia’s last eight games at major tournaments. . Croatia had failed to score in seven of their previous 26 games at the World Cup, including two of their three group games at this tournament. .