MY ACCOUNT
– Brazil have breezed through to last eight and have won 10 of their last 11 matches
– Croatia were the beaten finalists four years ago but appear to lack goal threat
– Recommended bet: Draw/Brazil half-time/full-time double result
Croatia’s route to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals has been tough, with the Europeans battling through a testing group stage campaign and needing penalties to edge past an impressive Japan.
By contrast, Brazil have breezed into the last eight.
Manager Tite was able to rest his entire first XI against Cameroon after his side had won their opening two group matches and the World Cup favourites could not have asked for easier round of 16 opponents than a physically and emotionally drained South Korea.
That match was over as a contest within 15 minutes as two early Brazil goals crushed Korea’s spirits — Neymar and co were able to drop the intensity and turn on the style as they cruised to a 4-1 victory.
Things get serious from here on in, however, and Croatia should offer the Selecao a proper test.
Zlatko Dalic’s experienced unit reached the final in Russia four years ago and still have the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball winner, Luka Modric, pulling the strings in midfield.
While Brazil are rightly favourites, there will be no room for showboating against a wily and dangerous quarter-final opponent.
Team news
Dalic looks likely to have a fully fit Croatian squad to choose from as left-back Borna Sosa has recovered from the illness that forced him to miss the meeting with Japan.
Brazil talisman Neymar returned from injury to play 80 minutes against South Korea but fellow attacker Gabriel Jesus will be out for several months with a serious knee injury.
Left-back Alex Telles is also out of the tournament through injury and Tite’s side faced South Korea without a recognised left-sided full-back as Alex Sandro was absent with a hip injury.
However, Sandro is likely to be fit enough for at least a place on the bench against Croatia.
The stats
Brazil have not lost any of their four meetings with Croatia and have won both competitive encounters.
They beat Croatia 1-0 at the 2006 World Cup and 3-1 at the 2014 edition, dumping the eastern Europeans out at the group stage on both occasions.
Dalic’s men reached the World Cup final in 2018, only lost in extra-time to Spain at Euro 2020 and have qualified for the 2023 Nations League finals after topping a group containing France and Denmark.
Croatia have lost just one of 20 matches since their Euro 2020 defeat to Spain, beating France and Denmark in that run and keeping five clean sheets in their last nine games.
Brazil’s only defeat in their last 19 outings was the relatively meaningless final group match against Cameroon.
Tite’s men have won 10 of their last 11 matches and have won seven of those to nil.
Prediction
Brazil are rightly favourites but are unlikely to enjoy anything like the same level of dominance as they had against South Korea.
A well-organised, confident opponent will offer a stern test and Croatia’s midfield three of Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic have the technical ability to control far more possession than the likes of South Korea and Serbia did against Brazil.
Croatia’s lack of goal threat, though, undermines their chances of landing a shock as none of their strikers are prolific or boast the quality to seriously unsettle a solid Brazilian backline.
As a result, this match could shape up in a very similar style to Brazil’s hard-earned victories over Serbia and Switzerland, which ended 2-0 and 1-0 respectively but were goalless at half-time.
The best bet might be to back the draw/Brazil half-time/full-time double result, which is available at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet.
Tite tends to open games cautiously against stronger opponents, while Croatia lack the firepower to cause a major shock.
