Luka Modric, £2.5m Celtic star and Tottenham ace lead combined Poland vs Croatia World Cup XI

12/03/2022 03:00 AM

Japan meet 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022 on Monday. So, HITC Football looks at who would join Luka Modric in a combined XI of the two nations.

The Samurai Blue have been one of if not the surprise stories of the 22nd edition of FIFA’s quadrennial tournament. Hajime Moriyasu’s squad stunned four-time champions Germany and 2010 winners Spain with a pair of 2-1 come-from-behind wins to finish top of Group E.

Japan turned a resolute defensive first-half display into a frantic start to catch Spain cold in the second period on Thursday. The land of the rising sun never seemed like sparking into life before the break. Yet they flicked a switch and came out as a completely different unit.

Kings of the upset, Japan, will meet Croatia in the 2022 World Cup Round of 16

Croatia, on the other hand, edged their way out of Group F as the runners-up to Morocco. Zlatko Dalic’s side had arrived in Qatar hoping to cause shocks of their own and potentially reach successive World Cup finals. But Vatreni’s ageing stars have not been too convincing.

Other than a commanding 4-1 win over Canada, question marks sit over what this World Cup has in store for Croatia. Dalic’s men rarely threatened Morocco or Belgium as Vatreni lacked an attacking spark. Croatia must find a way to click to go deeper into Qatar 2022.

Japan and Croatia will now meet at Al Janoub Stadium for their Round of 16 tie at the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Monday, December 5. So, before the knockout stage tie, HITC Football takes a look at who would feature with Modric in a combined Samurai Blue and Vatreni XI.

Shuichi Gonda (GK): Japan’s No.1 pips Croatia’s in our combined Round of 16 XI

Japan and Croatia will test each other’s goalkeepers when they meet in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. Neither Shuichi Gonda for the Samurai Blue nor Dominik Livakovic for Vatreni have been overly convincing at times. But Gonda has made an array of solid saves.

Josip Juranovic (RB): Croatia have the edge over Japan in our combined XI

Croatia have the edge over Japan at right-back in our combined XI through Josip Juranovic. The £2.5m Celtic star has produced a string of solid defensive showings during his outings. But Dalic will hope to see Juranovic offer a greater offensive threat going forward in Qatar.

Ko Itakura (CB): He could make Croatia struggle to break Japan’s XI down

If Croatia struggle to break the Japan defence down on Monday, Ko Itakura is likely to be the reason why. The Borussia Monchengladbach star has been tenacious off the ball and puts his body on the line. The 25-year-old has also been a composed presence on the ball.

Josko Gvardiol (CB): A star of the Croatian XI and our combined XI with Japan

Dalic will – and can – expect nothing but the best from Josko Gvardiol at the 2022 World Cup. The 20-year-old RB Leipzig star has been the all-round package with Croatia so far in Qatar. He has also regularly driven Vatreni out from the back with his quick feet to break.

Borna Sosa (LB): The Stuttgart star is only shimmering in Qatar so far

Borna Sosa is so far only shimmering in Qatar with the Stuttgart star not at his absolute best for Croatia. The 24-year-old is a prodigious threat from the left with his crosses into the box. But for all of his work across 270 minutes of action, Sosa does not have an assist.

Ao Tanaka (CM): A tireless workhorse in the Samurai Blue’s engine room

Ao Tanaka has been a tireless workhorse in the Samurai Blue’s engine room in the Middle East so far. His work has helped set the tone for Japan’s comebacks against Germany and Spain. At either end, he is breaking up play and offering his side an extra attacking threat.

Luka Modric (CM):The Real Madrid veteran is the conductor for Croatia

Veteran Real Madrid midfielder Modric has served as the conductor behind Croatia’s Qatar 2022 campaign. He started slowly against Morocco but the 37-year-old then gave Vatreni composure against Canada. He also distributed their limited possession against Belgium.

Mateo Kovacic (CM): His driving runs have brought energy to Dalic’s core

Mateo Kovacic provided the energy in Dalic’s engine room with his driving runs during the group stage. The Chelsea midfielder has destabilised the units Croatia have met since their tepid goalless draw with Morocco. He also came close to scoring in the draw with Belgium.

Ritsu Doan (RW): Moriyasu may not want to start the Freiburg forward

Moriyasu may not want to start Ritsu Doan when Japan meet Croatia in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. The SC Freiburg forward has flipped the script twice in Qatar already with his goals off the bench getting his team level en route to beating Germany and Spain.

Andrej Kramaric (ST): Belgium’s efforts will offer the Samurai Blue hope

Belgium’s efforts to keep Andrej Kramaric quiet will encourage Japan they can do the same when he leads Croatia’s XI on Monday. But the forward is just as capable of taking over the tie. Canada found that out the hard way as he scored twice with his most telling openings.

Ivan Perisic (LW): Croatia’s attack cannot click without the Tottenham star

Croatia’s attack cannot click in Qatar if Tottenham Hotspur forward Ivan Perisic is not key to their forays. The 33-year-old delivers the level Dalic needs his other attackers to match to repeat their 2018 run. But he only has two assists, against Canada, and is yet to score.

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