Defined by an unmistakable football identity, the Balkan side builds its game on controlling the tempo, the quality of its midfield and an endless competitive edge that stretches every match right to the limit.
On the other side stands the Japanese unit, instantly recognizable for its synchronized pressing, tactical discipline between the lines and lightning-fast transitions based on quick, short passing combinations. In Qatar 2022 they turned games around against European giants and proved they can go toe to toe with anyone.
Recent history looms large: the chequered team knocked the Asians out in the round of 16 at that World Cup after an incredibly tight battle that went all the way to penalties. With the group stage at boiling point, every point on the board is worth its weight in gold, and this Japan–Croatia showdown will be decided in every midfield duel, every risky turnover and every poorly timed transition.
Runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, the chequered side is driven by the maestro Luka Modrić, the tireless work of Mateo Kovačić and the authority of Joško Gvardiol at the back.
Facing them, the team from the Land of the Rising Sun arrives off the back of a superb 2022 group stage, with big wins against top nations and a squad that blends collective effort and flair, featuring talents like Ritsu Doan, Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo. Two teams that already delivered a memorable battle meet again with everything on the line: don’t just hear about it afterwards, secure your ticket and experience a Japan–Croatia clash live that could shape the fate of the entire group.