NUREMBERG, Germany, 19 June 2006 — Japan and Croatia 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 had the best chance to score but Darijo Srna’s penalty kick was saved by Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who dove to his left to stop the low shot.

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

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

“We had many chances to win the match,” Croatia defender Josip Simunic said. “But we couldn’t score a goal.”

Trying to boost his offensive chances, Japan coach Zico sent in Junichi Inamoto 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 Yanagisawa, who redirected the pass wide of the post.

“We played well in the second half,” Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura said. “But it’s a tough result for us and now we have to win against Brazil which is a tough thing to do.” Croatia had the better chances in the first half and would have taken the lead if not for several good saves from Kawaguchi.

Kranjcar hit the crossbar with a blast from the top of the area in the 28th.

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.

In the 89th, Japan substitute Masashi Oguro had a chance to win it but he couldn’t control a pass from Noahiro Takahara.

“It’s not over for us yet,” Takahara said.

“If we had lost we would basically be out but we still have the Brazil match and that’s something.” Croatia coach Zlatko Krancjar sent in substitutes Ivan Bosnjak, Ivica Olic and Luka Modric late in the match but the changes failed to provide results.

In the second minute of injury time, Olic started a three-on-two break but failed to connect with Prso. 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.

Zico Hits Out at Japan’s Early Kickoffs

Japan coach Zico said it was criminal that his team had to play another afternoon match in hot weather.

“It’s a crime that we had to play in this heat again,” said the Brazilian after his team fired blanks in the Group F match.

“Our last game was at three o’clock too but they want to do it that way for television. I guess business is business. The temperature at the Frankenstadion was 27 Celsius (82 Fahrenheit) during the match. Japan also kicked off at 3pm local time (1300 GMT) in their 3-1 defeat by Australia last Monday.

“We saw a very hard and tough game which we dominated,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar. “I congratulate the Croatian and Japanese players for playing in that heat.”

“We had a lot of chances but again we didn’t score and that is a problem for us. We were better organized but we had a bit of bad luck. We can work more on concentration and calmness.”

Croatia had 16 shots to Japan’s 12 during the match but only six were on target compared to five for Zico’s team.

“If we win the next game (against Australia on Thursday) we go to the next round,” said Kranjcar. “The players still have enough strength to get a good enough result to go through...” The highlight of a tight game on Sunday was a superb first-half penalty save by Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi from Darijo Srna as both sides missed a series of chances.

“We lost our way a little bit in the second half,” said Zico.

“But while you’re still breathing you’re still alive and we’ll do all we can to stay alive.”