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2022 FIFA World Cup

Quarter-finals

Croatia v Brazil

Education City Stadium
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Friday, 9 December 2022
Kick-off is at 17h00  
 
Croatia need to bring their A-game if they hope to get past Brazil in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, December 9.
 
The Vatreni were far from their best on Monday as they eliminated Japan 3-1 on penalties in the last 16, having played out to a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
 
Daizen Maeda (43') had given the Samurai Blue a deserved lead at the break, but Ivan Perisic (55') hit back for Zlatko Dalic's side early in the second half to force an additional 30 minutes of football.

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Dominik Livakovic pulled off three saves in the resulting shootout to book Croatia's place in the last eight and Dalic revealed the goalkeeper had been supremely confident after saving a number of penalties in training the previous day.
 
"We had a fantastic goalkeeper. Today he was great, he saved each of the penalties in a very strong and stable manner," Dalic said.
 
"We practised penalties in training yesterday and he made several saves. When he had the penalty shootout today I was assured, yesterday he installed this confidence and I was sure he would show that capacity today.
 
"We couldn't be dominant, but we have shown a strength of character. The Japanese might have underestimated us, never do that to Croatia. We are a small nation but we fight for what we want."
 
The Selecao produced a scintillating first-half display against South Korea on Monday to run out convincing 4-1 victors in their last-16 tie.
 
All four of their goals arrived in the opening 36 minutes, with Vinicius Junior opening the scoring after just seven minutes before Neymar (13' PEN), Richarlison (29') and Lucas Paqueta (36') compounded the Taegeuk Warriors' woes.

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The five-time world champions were criticised for dancing after scoring each goal but Tite insisted their intention was not to disrespect the opposition, rather it was meant as a bonding exercise.
 
"There's no interpretation other than happiness at the goal, happiness for the team, happiness for the performance," Tite said.
 
"There was no disrespect for the opposition nor towards [South Korea coach] Paulo Bento for whom I have a lot of respect.
 
"We try to adapt to the characteristics of the players. They are very young and I try to adapt a bit to their language, and part of their language is dancing."
 
Croatia have never beaten Brazil in four previous attempts, with their last two meetings at the World Cup in 2014 and 2006 both ending in defeat.
 

Head-to-Head:

Matches - 4
Croatia - 0
Brazil - 3
Draws - 1
 

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