Both teams had plenty of opportunities, but Croatia had the better of them.
In the 21st minute, Croatia earned a penalty when Dado Prso was brought down in the box by Tsuneyasu Miyamoto.
Darijo Srna hit the penalty shot well - low and hard to the right - but an absolutely spectacular block by keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi who just got a hand to it saved the day for Japan.
Eight minutes on and Croatian Niko Kranjcar unleashed a rocket from distance that banged off the crossbar.
Near disaster in the 33rd minute for keeper Kawaguchi.
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A slow ball innocently rolled back to the Japan man between the sticks, but it took a strange bounce right as it got to Kawaguchi.
The ball got by him and luckily for Japan it went out just wide of the post.
Japan had a great chance in the first half on a Hidetoshi Nakata distant first time piledriver, but keeper Stipe Pletikosa defended it nicely.
The Japanese can thank their keeper Kawaguchi, whose numerous great saves preserved the draw.
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