NUREMBERG, Germany - Japan and Croatia played to a 0-0 draw Sunday, a result that leaves both teams in danger of failing to advance at the World Cup.

Both teams had numerous chances to win the Group F match but solid goalkeeping on both sides left the teams with just one point with one match remaining. Japan faces defending champion Brazil in its final match while Croatia plays Australia.

Croatia had the best chance to score but Darijo Srna's penalty kick was saved by Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who dove to his left to stop the low shot.

In the 21st, Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto took down Dado Prso down in the area, drawing the penalty and a yellow card.

Croatia again came close in the 54th minute with Niko Kranjcar lunging for a pass from Ivan Klasnic and missing wide of the post.

"We had many chances to win the match," Croatia defender Josip Simunic said. "But we couldn't score a goal."

Trying to boost his offensive chances, Japan coach Zico sent in Junichi Inamoto to start the second half in place of Takashi Fukunishi. Keiji Tamada came on in the 61st minute, replacing Atsushi Yanagisawa.

Japan came close early in the second half.

Akira Kaji sent a cross to Yanagisawa, who redirected the pass wide of the post.

"We played well in the second half," Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura said. "But it's a tough result for us and now we have to win against Brazil which is a tough thing to do."

Croatia had the better chances in the first half and would have taken the lead if not for several good saves from Kawaguchi.

Kranjcar hit the crossbar with a blast from the top of the area in the 28th.

Japan's best chance in the opening half came when Hidetoshi Nakata rifled a long-range blast in the 37th minute that goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa got a hand on after diving to his left.

In the 89th, Japan substitute Masashi Oguro had a chance to win it but he couldn't control a pass from Noahiro Takahara.

"It's not over for us yet," Takahara said. "If we had lost we would basically be out but we still have the Brazil match and that's something."

Croatia coach Zlatko Krancjar sent in substitutes Ivan Bosnjak, Ivica Olic and Luka Modric late in the match but the changes failed to provide results.

In the second minute of injury time, Olic started a three-on-two break but failed to connect with Prso.

Both teams are making their third straight World Cup appearance. The last time the teams met, Croatia defeated Japan 1-0 at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Japan lost its opening match to Australia 3-1. Croatia lost to Brazil 1-0.  

Lineups:

Japan: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Takashi Fukunishi (Junichi Inamoto, 46th), Yuji Nakazawa, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, Alex, Shunsuke Nakamura, Hidetoshi Nakata, Akira Kaji, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Atsushi Yanagisawa (Keiji Tamada, 61st), Naohiro Takahara (Masashi Oguro, 85th).

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Dario Simic, Robert Kovac, Josip Simunic, Darijo Srna (Ivan Bosnjak, 87th), Niko Kovac, Igor Tudor (Ivica Olic, 70th), Marko Babic, Niko Kranjcar (Luka Modric, 78th), Ivan Klasnic, Dado Prso.