Japan & Croatia keep faint hopes alive

Japan and Croatia battled to a goalless draw here on Sunday which left both nations with a slim chance of reaching the second round of the World Cup.

Both teams now have one point, while their Group F rivals Brazil and Australia were playing in Munich later in the day.

Japan have the unenviable task of facing Brazil in their final group game in Dortmund on Thursday, when Croatia take on Australia in Stuttgart.

The Asian champions had goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to thank for throwing them a lifeline as he brilliantly saved Darijo Srna's 21st minute penalty after Dado Prso had been tripped in the penalty area.

Japan had the lion's share of the chances but were continually let down by poor finishing in hot conditions in the Franken Stadium.

Atsushi Yanagisawa wasted Japan's best opportunity, somehow slicing wide of an open goal from just three metres after Akira Kaji's cross had left Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa stranded early in the second half.

Croatian midfielder Niko Kovac said his side were left hoping Australia could pull off a surprise against Brazil.

"It was tough today because I think it got up to 40 degrees in the stadium, but it was the same for both teams," he said.

"Now it all rather depends on tonight's game. If Australia lose, our destiny is in our hands and we'll have to beat them by several goals." Brazilian-born midfielder Alex proved a constant threat to the shaky Croatian defence, but failed to find the target.

Japan must do without their captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto for the Brazil clash after he picked up his second yellow card of the competition when he caught Prso's heel to concede the penalty.

Although Srna's spot kick was hit hard and low, Kawaguchi leaped to his left to push it round the post.

Chances for Croatia were few and far between.

Marko Babic should have done better with his shot after surging half the field in the second period only to blast wide, while Niko Kranjcar raced on to a defence-splitting pass but could not stretch far enough to get his shot on target.

The towering Josip Simunic's header went wide as Croatia grew increasingly desperate.

Robert Kovac also picked up his second yellow card of the tournament in the 31st minute but Shunsuke Nakamura's resulting free-kick rebounded harmlessly off the wall.

In the 35th minute, an otherwise low-key Hidetoshi Nakata went close with a long-range shot but Pletikosa punched the ball to safely.