2006年6月17日

　　在小組賽第一輪，日本和克羅地亞隊雙雙失利。目前，兩隊都希望能在紐倫堡週日的比賽中，取得勝利。

　　日本隊主帥濟科本場將會改變陣容，以4-4-2的陣型迎戰克羅地亞隊。由於邊路好手 加地 亮的傷癒歸隊，這對於日本的邊路無疑是個好消息。

　　上場比賽儘管輸給了巴西隊，但克羅地亞人卻發揮出色，給巴西隊製造了不小的麻煩。遺憾的是隊長和防守核心尼科科瓦奇在上場比賽中受傷，能否在與日本的比賽中上場，仍然是個未知數。

　　兩支球隊都十分注重邊路進攻，而且，在這個位置，兩支球隊都有體力充沛，能自始自終來回奔跑在邊路的球員，他們分別是日本隊的左路球員阿萊士桑托斯 和 和克羅地亞的右路球員達裏約斯爾納。雙方將無疑會在比賽中擦出火花。

　　在以往的歷史交鋒中，98年法國世界盃上，克羅地亞隊憑藉蘇克的進球，1比0力剋日本隊。而在1997年6月8日的友誼賽中，日本隊以4比3戰勝對手。

　　日本隊員中田 英壽表示，儘管輸掉了本應勝利的首場比賽，但是他更願意期待下一場比賽。他説：“我們還有兩場小組賽，那意味著我們可以拿到6分。”

　　克羅地亞射手伊萬克拉什尼奇認為和日本的比賽會是一場關鍵的比賽。他説：“我們會在與日本隊的比賽中進球，而且不只進一個，很可能是一個大比分。很確定的一點是，我們會取得比賽的勝利。”

　　鏈結：http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060616/1/7nz8.html

　　原文：Croatia and Japan looking to bounce back

　　17 June 2006

　　by FIFAworldcup.com

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　　Both Japan and Croatia suffered defeats in their first outings at Germany 2006. Now the hopes of two nations rest on victory in Nuremberg on Sunday. Anything less, and their prospects for the Round of 16 will look bleak at best.

　　Japan took the lead against Australia in the 26th minute of their Germany 2006 opener, and held the advantage for nearly an hour. Then, in a dramatic change of fortune, the Oceania champions hit back with three goals in the last eight minutes to seal an unlikely victory. Croatia, meanwhile, took the game to reigning world champions Brazil in their first match, before ending up on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline.

　　Colours for the game

　　Japan: Blue shirt, blue shorts, blue socks

　　Croatia: Red and white shirt, white shorts, white socks

　　How things stand

　　Following the 3-1 loss to Australia, Japan coach Zico has opted to change from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation. Good news for Japan includes the likely return of right-side specialist Akira Kaji , who appears to have recovered from the injury he picked up during Japan's friendly with Germany on 28 May.

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　　While Croatiawent down to a 1-0 defeat against Brazil, their fine display in that match will see them in good heart. The FIFA World Cup semi-finalists from France 98 lost captain and defensive linchpin Niko Kovac to injury though, and there is concern about his availability for the Japan game.

　　The duel

　　Alessandro Santos v Darijo Srna

　　Both teams make heavy use of the wings, and both have a highly attacking player with the stamina to keep moving along the flank from start to finish: for Japan, left wingback Alessandro 'Alex' Santos and on the right side for Croatia: Darijo Srna. Depending on which wingman spends more time on the attack, forcing his counterpart back to attend to defensive duties, could well have a bearing on which team takes control.

　　Past meetings

　　Japan and Croatia met at the group stage in France 98. On that occasion Japan pressed hard but Croatia came away with a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half strike by Davor Suker. In an international friendly on 8 June 1997, Japan emerged 4-3 winners in a dramatic battle of changing fortunes.

　　What they are saying

　　Hidetoshi Nakata (JPN): We could have won the opener against Australia if we'd scored a second goal, and we had chances to do just that. But that game's history now. It's always essential to look ahead and focus on winning the next game. We have two more group games, and that means we can get six points.

　　Ivan Klasnic (CRO): The game against Japan will be make-or-break; a vital match. If we lose, we'll have to pack our bags and get ready to go home. We didn't score against Brazil, but we'll find the target against Japan. And not just once ? a big score's possible. We'll win this one for sure.

　　作者-岳東興-北京第二外國語學院-英語系

責編：佟杉杉