Captain Niko Kovac has played down talk of another bust-up within the Croatia camp just 24 hours before his team face Japan in their crucial Group G game in Nuremberg.

Werder Bremen forward Ivan Klasnic was believed to be involved in a heated training ground discussion with one of his team-mates - either Robert Kovac or Josip Simunic - as they put the finishing touches to their preparations for the match with the Asian champions.

But Kovac denied there was a rift in the squad and stressed his team needed to take the three points from Japan to eliminate Zico's team from the competition and give themselves a realistic chance of going through to the knock-out round.

'The atmosphere is very good, there are no problems,' stressed the 34-year-old Hertha Berlin defender, who has been passed fit to play after recovering from a rib injury.

'We have to win tomorrow, a draw is not enough for us because I think the Japanese can beat Brazil. Brazil are beatable.'

The alleged discord within the squad comes just one day after assistant coach Martin Novoselac played down reports of a dispute between Dado Prso and Niko Kranjcar after the Rangers striker questioned the quality of the service he received from Croatia's midfield in the 1-0 defeat to the defending champions and tournament favourites.

Prso, however, believes his team has what it takes to beat the Japanese, although he is hoping the elements can intervene to make the task easier for the Croatians.

'We are confident we can win the game, just like Japan,' said Prso. 'We will wait and see.

'I think it would be good if the rain was to come because it's going to be difficult to play in the heat at three o'clock. I think it is a concern. It's difficult, more for us than for them.'

With Brazil expected to top the group with three wins out of three against Croatia, Japan and Australia, goal difference could well become a key factor in determining which team takes second place in the group.

But Prso refused to consider racking up as many goals as possible against the Japanese and, with both teams needing to win, he predicted an entertaining spectacle at the Frankenstadion.

'I don't think we are going to look for the goal difference,' he said. 'First we have to win the game and then we will see.

'We are not going to be happy with a draw. Like them we are looking for the win and I think it is going to be an open game.'