Japan vs Croatia

Necronomicon

Hopefully this will be a good one, seeing as both teams essentially have to win. Japan are set to make changes from the team that lost to Australia, but Nakamura has recovered from illness and a bruised thigh to make it.

Predictions? I'll go for an exciting draw.

jArgHA

Its hard to predict this one, but I liked the look of Croatia in their first game against Brazil, so I'll go for them to win. Don't expect many goals.

eirebhoy

I'm delighted Nakamura is fit to play as he was a doubt for the rest of the tournament. My favourite Celtic player and hopefully he's on form.

Necronomicon

Prso wins a penalty.

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Missed! Great save.

Pepe LeFrits

Japan really have the best player names.

eirebhoy

I was actually hoping Croatia would score that peno so we'd see a bit more urgency from Japan. In saying that, Croatia are worse.

KdjaCL

Okish game Japan really there is no point in corssing the ball and overplay it to much, they can hit on the break and use pace and thats about it.

Croatia well organised and typical Euro side can defend and defend well. Shame they use most of the team to do that so seem lacking up front with never any more than 3 players going forward.

Game needs a sending off tbh


kdjac

Necronomicon

Miss of the tournament!!

randomname

how did he feckin miss that! :eek:

Necronomicon

Croatia just had a good chance themselves. The second half has started a bit brighter.

futuredeath

can someone tell me the name of the 2 commentators on itv for this match - settle and argument

Necronomicon

I can't remember the name of the main guy, David Pleat is the co-commentator though.

futuredeath

only needed the co-commentator anyway thank you very much.

DOLEMAN

Jimmy Magee is not a very good commentator... Who's the new boring presenter bloke working in the studio for this game too??

YeatsCounty

How bloody long did the referee have to get out of Japan's way before he dispossessed them of the ball? :eek: *shakes head*

All over, 0-0. Should have been 1-0 to Japan.

eirebhoy

I think Japan should just start with Inamoto and Ono and drop their 2 strikers as they aren't very good at scoring. The lads on RTE were not giving Japan any credit. Kinsella thought Croatia just shaded the game... yeah right. Cunningham said it was always expected that Aus v Croatia was going to be the deciding game for 2nd spot. He also just dismissed Japan's chances of them beating Brazil. OK, it's a long shot but they have a better chance than the other 2 of beating Brazil. If they had a decent striker they'd certainly have 6 points now. I'm sure there's a lot of interest in their big centre half, he has been excellent.

btw - what is it with ref's booking players for time wasting when there's no reason for them to time waste?

Pigman II

I don't think I'll be too disappointed if neither of these 2 make the last 16.

Highlight of the game for me was the strange bounce that backpass to the goalie took at the last second

Makaveli

Japan were hard done by again. Croatia never really did much and the Japanese wasted too many good chances.

If the Japanese had a decent striker they could probably give Brazil a run for their money, but as they don't I can't see Japan progressing. Unfortunate enough, I'd prefer to see them go through ahead of Australia and Croatia.