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World Cup 2022: What to expect on Day 16

The Boys from Brazil are back in action on Monday night as the World Cup favourites look to book their place in the quarter-finals of this year's tournament.

Looking to bounce back after their unexpected blip, losing to Cameroon in the final group game, South Korea stand between them and a place in the last eight.

Japan and Croatia meet in the early kick-off (3pm Irish time) with the winners of both games meeting in Friday's quarter-final.

Japan will invoke the spirit of the Samurai warrior in their clash with Croatia on Monday as they look to banish the memory of their exit from the last World Cup and reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

The heartbreaking defeat by Belgium in the last 16 four years ago, when they gave up a 2-0 lead and lost to a stoppage-time goal, still haunts Japan and veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo said they were desperate for redemption.

"I have never forgotten about that battle against Belgium. Sometimes scenes from the match suddenly come back to me and the last four years have been very tough," said the full-back, who is playing at his fourth World Cup.

"But I think we have grown mentally as well as physically and... as far as I can see, this team is the best and the strongest that has ever competed for Japan at the World Cup.

"So tomorrow, we intend to beat Croatia and enjoy a new landscape and I am looking forward to shouting 'Bravo!'."

The former Inter Milan stalwart said he had taken to shouting the Italian word "Coraggio!" in unison with young players at the start of the campaign to emphasise the importance of playing courageously.

Nagatomo, who believes Japan have the most united team at the World Cup, said he had also drawn on Japanese cultural references to drive the point home.

"I use the

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