Samurai Blue face Croatia for place in quarterfinals

Ryo Nishii / Yomiuri Shimbun Sportswriter

13:43 JST, December 5, 2022

DOHA ― Japan’s national soccer team will face Croatia, the runner-up at the previous FIFA World Cup in 2018, in the round of 16. Kickoff is at midnight Tuesday, Japan time.

The Samurai Blue, ranked 24th in the world by FIFA, look to upset 12th-ranked Croatia to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time.