Japan is readying to make history in men's soccer. The "Samurai Blue" practiced on Sunday to prepare for its match against Croatia. If Japan wins, it'll advance to the final eight for the first time.

Japan beat former champions Germany and Spain to finish at the top in Group E. But the team has faced Croatia twice in the World Cup and never won.

Captain Yoshida Maya and key player Mitoma Kaoru are determined to get a win this time for Japan.

Mitoma thinks the team will have more opportunities to hold the ball than they did against Spain and Germany. He said, "Near the goal, I'll be able to go one-on-one more often and that'll be the key to scoring."

Yoshida says the players are in good shape and everyone has strong motivation to make history for Japan by winning the game.

Croatia finished second in Group F and is also ready for battle. Croatia finished as runner-up in the last World Cup. The team boasts the tournament's 2018 MVP, Luka Modric and Croatia's 20-year-old defender, Josko Gvardiol has been playing well.

Gvardiol usually plays in Germany. So do eight members of team Japan. He says he knows the Japanese players very well. He remarked that the team's players are all back together. He says they "fight till the very end and don't surrender."

The game kicks off Monday at 6pm Qatar time, midnight in Tokyo.