Japan were lucky to survive a saved penalty and a host of missed chances from Croatia as the two sides played out a 0-0 draw in Nuremberg.
Neither side’s progression hopes were helped as both sides failed to capitalize on their opening game defeats. The draw was probably a fair result but wasteful finishing didn't help the match live long in the memory of either set of supporters.
The game started with both sides eager to give nothing away because of their predicament but a chance fell to Japan in the opening minutes with a dangerous free kick from Nakamura only just being forced away by the Croatian defense.
With the game beginning to bob backwards and forwards Kranjcar was unlucky not to be able to get on the end of a great ball from Kovac when stretching at the back post. Aside from two half chances both sides were struggling for real invention until Croatia received a golden chance when Prso was brought down in the area by a reckless challenge.
Srna smashed his spot kick to the keepers left but a sprawling save from keeper Kawaguchi was enough to force the ball wide and keep the game level.
Despite the spur of a penalty save Japan were able to create very little in the way of chances. Nakamura seemed the only player capable of unlocking the door but he was not helped by forward front play and the biggest creative spark Alex Santos resigned to left back.
Croatia continued to pressure with Kranjcar and Prso combining to set up the biggest scare of the game for Japan as Kranjcar smashed the ball against the cross bar with the goalkeeper well beaten. Japan began to stir and Nakata tested the keeper before halftime with a long range effort but it was not enough to beat a stretching Pletikosa.
The second half with Japan taking the lead in creating chances and an awful miss from Yanagisawa summing up the game for the Asian side. Miss-hitting a shot at an open goal when played through by Kaji, the Japanese bench realized that this might not be their lucky day.
A free kick played in by Croatia Srna caused more panic in the Japan defense but Simunic a rock at the defensive end was not able to convert the unchallenged header. The final opportunity to prevent the game from ending in a 0-0 draw was a shot from Modric a substitute which just missed the post by a few inches.
With neither side able to prevent the game trundling onto a draw they both seemingly accepted a point with little fuss but know that they must both win their final group games.
Neither side’s progression hopes were helped as both sides failed to capitalize on their opening game defeats. The draw was probably a fair result but wasteful finishing didn't help the match live long in the memory of either set of supporters.
The game started with both sides eager to give nothing away because of their predicament but a chance fell to Japan in the opening minutes with a dangerous free kick from Nakamura only just being forced away by the Croatian defense.
With the game beginning to bob backwards and forwards Kranjcar was unlucky not to be able to get on the end of a great ball from Kovac when stretching at the back post. Aside from two half chances both sides were struggling for real invention until Croatia received a golden chance when Prso was brought down in the area by a reckless challenge.
Srna smashed his spot kick to the keepers left but a sprawling save from keeper Kawaguchi was enough to force the ball wide and keep the game level.
Despite the spur of a penalty save Japan were able to create very little in the way of chances. Nakamura seemed the only player capable of unlocking the door but he was not helped by forward front play and the biggest creative spark Alex Santos resigned to left back.
Croatia continued to pressure with Kranjcar and Prso combining to set up the biggest scare of the game for Japan as Kranjcar smashed the ball against the cross bar with the goalkeeper well beaten. Japan began to stir and Nakata tested the keeper before halftime with a long range effort but it was not enough to beat a stretching Pletikosa.
The second half with Japan taking the lead in creating chances and an awful miss from Yanagisawa summing up the game for the Asian side. Miss-hitting a shot at an open goal when played through by Kaji, the Japanese bench realized that this might not be their lucky day.
A free kick played in by Croatia Srna caused more panic in the Japan defense but Simunic a rock at the defensive end was not able to convert the unchallenged header. The final opportunity to prevent the game from ending in a 0-0 draw was a shot from Modric a substitute which just missed the post by a few inches.
With neither side able to prevent the game trundling onto a draw they both seemingly accepted a point with little fuss but know that they must both win their final group games.