How Croatia could line up against Japan

The Chequered Ones finished second in Group F after playing out a goalless draw with Belgium - who were eliminated in the process - in Thursday's battle.

Dalic had the remarkable defensive efforts of RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol to thank on the night, as the 20-year-old provided stellar protection to number one Dominik Livakovic.

Gvardiol should certainly continue in the heart of defence alongside the veteran Dejan Lovren, who will miss any potential quarter-final match if he picks up a yellow card here.

Borna Sosa and Josip Juranovic's spots in the full-back areas are safe, and the latter is set to win his 25th cap for the Chequered Ones as he prepares for an expected barrage of Japan counter-attacks.

Luka Modric is also one yellow card away from a World Cup ban, but the Real Madrid stalwart is in no danger of losing his spot in midfield alongside Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.

Tottenham Hotspur's Ivan Perisic, who has had a team-high five shots in Qatar, needs just one more goal to match Mario Mandzukic's 33 and go level with the assistant manager in second place in the all-time charts behind Davor Suker.

Perisic will likely be joined in the final third by Marko Livaja and Andrej Kramaric, but neither striker cut the mustard against Belgium and will be wary of the threat of Nikola Vlasic, Bruno Petkovic and Mario Pasalic.

Croatia possible starting lineup: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic