It doesn't look good for Japan. The Boys in Blue play Brazil on June 22 in Dortmund at the same time as Australia plays Croatia (9 p.m. Germany time). Here's how things could work out: Glass two-thirds empty:
If Japan draws or loses to Brazil: Out.
If Japan beats Brazil and Australia beats Croatia: Out.
If Japan beats Brazil by one or two goals and Australia draws with Croatia: Out (If Japan wins 2-0 and Australia draws 0-0 they would have the same goal difference and same goals scored but Australia beat Japan in their head-to-head clash).
If Japan beats Brazil and Croatia beats Australia by the same winning margin: Out (Because of Croatia's better goal difference) Glass one-third full:
If Japan beats Brazil by three goals and Australia draws with Croatia: Japan goes through.
If Japan beats Brazil by a better winning margin than Croatia beats Australia by: Japan goes through. (If Japan wins by one more goal than Croatia's winning margin it would mean Japan's and Croatia's goal difference is equal but Japan would have scored more goals overall).
Rules on how teams are divided:
1st -- Points, 2nd -- Goal difference, 3rd -- Goals scored, 4th -- Head-to-head results, 5th -- Goals scored in the head-to-heads, 6th -- The drawing of lots.