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World Cup: Croatia, Japan teams staring down a barrel after goalless draw

Group F
Croatia 0, Japan 0

Croatia and Japan played to a 0-0 draw yesterday, a result that leaves both teams in danger of failing to advance at the World Cup.

Both teams had numerous chances to win the Group F match, but solid goalkeeping on both sides left the teams with just one point with one match remaining.

Japan faces defending champion Brazil in its final match, while Croatia plays Australia.

Croatia came close in the 54th minute with Niko Kranjcar lunging for a pass from Ivan Klasnic and missing wide of the post.

Trying to boost his offensive chances, Japan coach Zico sent Junichi Inamoto in to start the second half in place of Takashi Fukunishi. Keiji Tamada came on in the 61st minute, replacing Atsushi Yanagisawa.

Japan came close early in the second half.

Akira Kaji sent a cross to Yanagiswa, who missed the best chance of the match, and possibly of the tournament so far, when he miskicked with an open goal at his mercy.

It was even worse than Peter Crouch's miss against Trinidad and Tobago.

Croatia had the better chances in the first half and would have taken the lead if not for several good saves from Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto took Dado Prso down in the area in the 21st minute, drawing a penalty and a yellow card.

But Kawaguchi denied Darijo Srna from the penalty spot, diving to his left to stop the low shot.

Kawaguchi, a failure at Portsmouth two seasons ago when he was too small for English Premiership football, then got down to stop a fierce shot from Klasnic.

He was saved by the woodwork in the 28th minute when Kranjcar turned and volleyed a superb shot onto the Japanese bar from 20m.

Both teams are making their third straight World Cup appearance. The last time the teams met, Croatia defeated Japan 1-0 at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Japan lost its opening match to Australia 3-1. Croatia lost to Brazil 1-0.

Japan's best chance in the opening half came when Hidetoshi Nakata rifled a long-range blast in the 37th minute that goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa got a hand on after diving to his left.

Full report in tomorrow's edition of the Taipei Times.
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