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Group H - Japan-Croatia, Suker score gives Croatia victory |
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Croatia rode its luck in blazing heat on Saturday to secure a 1-0 World Cup victory over a spirited Japanese team thanks to a late goal from Davor Suker.
The second win all but guarantees Croatia a place in the next round in its debut at the finals.
"I am very proud that we have achieved our ambition. We come from a small country but are now part of the elite," said coach Miroslav Blazevic.
The goal 13 minutes from time from Suker, captain for the day and his team's only attacking threat, broke the hearts of legions of Japanese fans on an afternoon of blue skies and blue shirts in the Beaujoire stadium.
Suker's shot with his trusty left foot brushed past goalkeeper Koshikatsu Kawaguchi after a pass from Aljosa Asanovic had been blocked and then stabbed through again.
This time even Suker, who had wasted a number of chances, could not miss and the lengthy Croatian celebrations were those of an aging side on the brink of exhaustion.
"It was really hellish and difficult to play in such weather. But what counts most if that we got the points in this historic game," said Suker, who lost nearly nine pounds during the game.
Only a bizarre set of results can prevent Croatia reaching the final 16. Japan, after two defeats in its first appearance at a World Cup, is almost certainly on its way home after its final game against Jamaica on Friday.
Japan, despite its physical disadvantage, was the more inventive and adventurous team and for long periods seemed sure to turn its territorial advantage into goals.
However, the Japanese' inventive play, allied to their superior fitness on an afternoon when the temperature reached 100 degrees, was not enough and they repeatedly let themselves down with their final ball.
"Our aim was to reach the second round, but there is little chance now," conceded Japan's coach Takeshi Okada. "Today was flattering for our players, but we wanted to win. But this is not the end for Japanese football."
Croatia had a starting 11 which contained only two players under 28, while Japan fielded only three over that age. Experience and good fortune won out over earnest endeavour.
Suker was always a threat, but for long passages of the game the Japanese kept the ball moving around the Croatian half, orchestrated by the red-haired playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata.
Japan almost scored with its best opporutnity after 34 minutes. Nakata, running strongly through midfield, picked out Masashi Nakayama with a perfectly flighted pass which the striker shot at the goalkeeper.
As its frustration and the temperature mounted, Croatia became more disjointed and irritable. Former midfielder master Robert Prosinecki was booked and later substituted.
Midfielder Hiroshi Nanami had seen a header, from Naoki Soma's cross, fly just wide at the end of another Japan attack when Suker took control of the game.
After 73 minutes, the Real Madrid forward produced a beautiful chip which left the bar above Kawaguchi shaking and four minutes later he pounced for a winner he, but not his team, deserved.
Blazevic said, "I was worried because of the chances we missed, usually that turns against you. But we knew how to bide our time and eventually won."
Croatia plays Argentina in its final game on Friday and Suker hopes his team can win that one, too.
"Now we are thinking of beating Argentina. Why not? We should aim for the top place in our group," Suker said. "Besides, if we finish first we'll play in the evening (in the next round), whereas if we end up second we'll play in the afternoon, and the temperature is beginning to be too high."
