Today’s Games

Group E

Belgium vs. Mexico

SITE: Nantes.

TIME: 5:30 a.m. PDT TV: ESPN2, Ch. 34 RADIO: KWKW (1330, Spanish)

* ABOUT CROATIA: The weather has warmed considerably in Nantes, but Croatia will not need to be much hotter than it was in its 3-1 victory over Jamaica to reach the second round. Team captain Zvonimir Boban has a calf strain and might not be available, but Croatia has enough depth to compensate.

* ABOUT JAPAN: Coach Takeshi Okada knows his team has to score, and that has been a problem. Midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata has been getting all sorts of publicity and played well in a 1-0 loss to Argentina, but now needs to take a leadership role if Japan is to succeed.

* OUTLOOK: “I’m afraid of Japan, particularly after the Argentina game,” said Croatia’s coach, Miroslav Blazevic. “They cover a lot of kilometers . . . work very hard and they chase you all over the field.” Which is likely what they will be doing. Croatia by a goal or two.