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Japan produced the most wacko group stage performance of any team at the World Cup, with their defeat to lowly Costa Rica sandwiched between a pair of giant upsets over Germany and Spain. They take on Croatia, the second place finishers from 2018, in the Round of 16, as Luka Modric's side finished second in Group F behind Morocco.
After emerging as unlikely winners of a bruising World Cup group, Japan have a battle-tested Croatia team with a world-class midfield led by superstar Luka Modric between them and a first-ever quarterfinal berth.
The World Cup group stage offered some important lessons — good and bad — from the game's top goalkeepers
Japan's predicted starting XI for their World Cup round of 16 tie against Croatia.
Preview of Japan's World Cup round of 16 tie against Croatia, including team news, lineups and prediction.