Doha: Brazil will face Croatia today in the first quarter of the World Cup. The match will be played at Al Rayyan Stadium at 8.30 pm. While Brazil arrives with the elegance and strength of Latin American football, Croatia arrives with the style and speed of European football. Victory will be impossible to predict as Europe and Latin America go head-to-head to secure the top spot in the last four. Meanwhile, the Canaries have no worries heading into the quarterfinals. Dangerous strikers who score goals. A midfield that creates one chance after another. A defense that leaves no room for experimentation. Neymar, who returned from injury, is also in form.
By the pre-quarters, Tita’s trials must have ended. There is no possibility of any significant changes in the starting XI of the last match. Croatia is not a spectacular team like Brazil. Coach Dalic’s tactics revolve around superstar Luka Modric. The midfield is the strength of the team.
There is no consistent finisher except for regularity in progress. Perisic and Petkovic need to return to form. It is a relief that there are no cracks in the defence. Brazil has the upper hand in head-to-head matches.
Brazil and Croatia on their way to the quarters
Brazil
Serbia 0 Brazil 2
Switzerland 0 Brazil 1
Cameroon 0 Brazil 0
Prequarter
South Korea 4 Brazil 1
Croatia
Morocco 0 Croatia 0
Canada 1 Croatia 4
Belgium 0 Croatia 0
Prequarter
Japan 0 Croatia 0 (Penalties 1-3)