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CROATIAN playmaker Robert Prosinecki knows he and his veteran team-mates' time in the international arena may almost be over, 11 years after the born-again star won the World Youth Championships with the former Yugoslavia. ''We are all around 30 now and this is the last chance for our generation to do something big,'' the 29-year-old Prosinecki said. But the Croatia Zagreb midfielder's personal achievements will never fade away.
He won a European Champions' Cup medal with Red Star in 1991, moved to Real Madrid and, after three injury-ravaged years he left in 1994, playing for three other Spanish clubs in as many seasons, including Barcelona where he fell foul of coach Johan Cruyff.
However now that he is back with Croatia Zagreb in his homeland, he has resurrected the confidence which had betrayed him during his time in Spain. Japan in Nantes today will be just another chance for Spain and the rest of the world to realise just exactly what they are missing.
''If all of us play according to our potential, we won't have any problem,'' added Prosinecki who became the first player in World Cup finals to score for two different countries (Croatia and Yugoslavia) and no team can feel wholly confident about meeting him and his compatriots in the knock-out phases.
The Japanese, meanwhile, are hoping to take advantage of Prosinecki's temperamental streak. Japan's most capped player, Masami Ihara claimed his side's defence would be 'so persistent that Croatia will lose their cool'. He added: ''There may be a few players sent off. For our part, we'll have to score a goal."
Unless Japan can escape unscathed from the clutches of a committed Croatian team, their next meaningful match in the World Cup finals is likely to be on home soil in 2002. At least a draw is required if the Japanese are to retain a chance of advancing from Group H in their debut tournament, and a spirited performance against Argentina has given them hope of frustrating opponents beaten 4-3 in a Tokyo friendly a year ago.
Physically, Japan will not be found wanting with Takeshi Okada saying: For years, size differences between Japanese players and others has gone against us, but we can always compensate with our speed. We'll simply try our best, fight hard and be careful to stay out of trouble with referees.
Midfield playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata has made no secret of his desire to move to Europe after the finals and another good performance could accelerate a possible move to Espanol for the 21-year-old.
Probable Teams:
Japan: 20-Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, 2-Akira Narahashi, 3-Naoki Soma, 17-Yutaka Akita, 19-Eisuke Nakanishi, 6-Motohiro Yamaguchi, 10-Hiroshi Nanami, 8-Hidetoshi Nakata, 22-Takashi Hirano, 18-Shoji Jo, 9-Masashi Nakayama.
Croatia: 1-Drazen Ladic, 4-Igor Stimac, 14-Zvonimir Soldo, 6-Slaven Bilic, 20-Dario Simic, 17-Robert Jarni; 7-Aljosa Asanovic, 10-Zvonimir Boban, 8-Robert Prosinecki, 13-Mario Stanic, 9-Davor Suker.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
Prosinecki v Nakata
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 Robert Prosinecki against Hidetoshi Nakata could be a midfield battle royal between two of the most stylish players at France 98. They both caught the eye with their passing and movement in their respective first games (as the stats below show) and you can expect some silky skills from the middle of the park.
| Prosinecki | Nakata
| | Minutes On Pitch | 90 | 90
| | Goal Attempts | |
| | Goals | 1 | 0
| | Shots On Target | 0 | 1
| | Shots Off Target | 0 | 2
| | Blocked Shots | 0 | 0
| | Passing | |
| | Goal Assists | 0 | 0
| | Total Passes | 45 | 51
| | Pass Completion % | 89% | 71%
| | Crossing | |
| | Total Crosses | 4 | 5
| | Cross Completion % | 50% | 0%
| | Dribbling | |
| | Dribbles & Runs | 5 | 4
| | Dribble Completion % | 100% | 50%
| | Defending | |
| | Tackles Made | 3 | 6
| | Tackles Won % | 67% | 67%
| | Blocks | 0 | 1
| | Clearances | 1 | 3
| | Interceptions | 0 | 1
| | Discipline | |
| | Fouls | 0 | 4
| | Offside | 0 | 0
| | Yellow Cards | 0 | 0
| | Red Cards | 0 | 0
| | Carling Opta Points Score | 1225 | 1015
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Croatia v Japan: Trivia
They have played only once in the past, Japan winning 4-3 in Tokyo last year.
Robert Jarni and Robert Prosinecki, who represented Yugoslavia in 1990, are the first players to appear for two countries in World Cup tournaments since Ferenc Pusks, Jos Santamaria and Jos Altafini in 1962.
Croatia qualified for the finals ahead of two other countries from the former Yugoslavia: Slovenia and Bosnia.
Slaven Bilic is a qualified lawyer.
South Koreans apart, Shoji Jo has the shortest surname of any player to appear in a World Cup tournament, along with Francisco Sa (Argentinean 1974).
If Japan fail to score again, they may regret leaving out their record scorer Kazu Miura, whose 54 international goals put him in 8th place on the all-time list.
Watch out for Robert Jarni's pace. He runs the 100 metres in 11 seconds flat.
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News 7 
