Fuel injection control apparatus and fuel injection control method for direct injection engine

An engine has an injector (22), which directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber (15). When the coolant temperature during the cranking of the engine is low, an ECU (40) controls the injector (22) such that the engine is operated in a compression stroke injection mode. When the engine is operated in the compression stroke injection mode, the ECU (40) controls the injector (22) to advance the fuel injection timing in accordance with an increase of the coolant temperature. As a result, the engine reduces the amount of unburned discharge gas, provides improved ignition and combustion, and provides stable idling.