Scary Brazil face spirited Croatia

After defeating South Korea 4-1, high-flying Brazil are now set to face the spirited Croatians in the first World Cup Quarter-final clash at the Education City Stadium in Doha on Friday.

Croatia are coming from a dramatic 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory against Japan in the last 16 thanks to their goalkeeper Dominic Levakovic, who saved three out of Japan’s four takes. The Croats now find themselves up against the ‘Samba Squad’ who just dropped their best performance of the tournament in the round of 16 against South Korea.

The finalists of the previous World Cup can be hopeful ahead of their match against such an opponent as they are not new to the dramatic stage and can hold their nerves in such situations as seven of Croatia’s last knockout games in the major tournaments have gone to extra time with the exception of the 2018 World Cup final. They have progressed from all four knockout games that had gone to extra time in the World Cups.

Brazil are undoubtedly the favourites ahead of the game having never lost to Croatia in all of their four meetings (W3 D1). With a terrifying squad, Brazil are looking reach the Semi-finals for the ninth time, a number better than any other nation bar Germany. Meanwhile, the Croats have made it out to at least the last four every time they have qualified from the group stages.

Brazil have lost only one game in their last 19 games, while Zlatko Dalic’s side are unbeaten in all of their last 10.

While Croatia have lost four of their five encounters against Latin American sides except that 3-0 win against Argentina in the last World Cup, they can take positives from the fact that Brazil have not won any knockout encounter against a European side since their 2-0 victory in the 2002 World Cup final.

Croatia coach Dalic is unlikely to bring changes in the XI ahead of their clash against the five-time World Champions, with midfield maestro Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic all set to start. Both Modric and Kovacic will be missing the action in the semis should they concede one more yellow against Brazil.

Josep Stanisic, who missed the match against Japan in the round of 16, is likely to return to the starting XI to replace Borna Barisic at the left back. The rest of the team is expected to remain the same.

As for Brazil, they will miss the service of Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles, who were ruled out of the tournament due to injuries while Alex Sandro is still a doubt.