Croatia vs Brazil – FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarter Finals
Croatia vs Brazil – FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarter Finals
Croatia and Brazil qualified for the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after beating Japan and South Korea, respectively, in the Round Of 16. They are set to face each other on Friday, December 9, 2022, at the Education City Stadium, Doha, Qatar, at 10:00 AM ET.
Croatia had a lucky win against Japan in their pre-quarter match on penalties. The Japanese outplayed the Croatians but were unlucky not to win the game.
On the other hand, Brazil breezed past South Korea with a convincing 4-1 win in their pre-quarter game. Soccer fans saw the return of Neymar after being sidelined from the team due to an injury he picked up in the first game.
Croatia – Road To Quarter Finals
Croatia was pitted in Group F against Morocco, Canada, and Belgium in 2022’s FIFA World Cup. It was a tough group to come out from though it might not have looked like that on paper.
Croatia only had one win in the group stages: against Canada. The other two games ended in draws, but Belgium’s poor form ensured that Croatia only needed a draw in their last game to progress further into the tournament.
Game 1
Croatia played its first game against Morocco, which has seen a rise in world rankings in the past few years. The likes of Hakimi, Nouri, Ziyech, Saiss, Amrabat, etc., have lifted Morocco to new heights.
On the other hand, Croatia comprises an aging team, most of whom will play their last World Cup. This was a determining factor in the minds of people who predicted Croatia might have a hard time going long in the tournament.
Croatia had 65% possession of the ball for most of the game, but Morocco had more goal attempts. Croatia only attempted 5 shots, with 2 on target. In contrast, Morocco had 8 shots on goal the entire game.
The game ended in a draw, with both countries walking away with a point each.
Game 2
Croatia’s second game in the group stage came against the newcomers Canada. Canada qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 36 years. However, it was not sweet for the Canadians as Croatia thrashed them with 4 goals to 1.
Before the game, Canada’s coach riled up the Croatian camp by saying Canada would show Croatia who the big dog is. That did not go down well with the Croatian players, and they taught the Canadians a lesson in humility.
The game started with Canada shocking the soccer world by scoring the first goal in the second minute through Alphonso Davies, the team’s maverick. However, Andrej Kamaric scored twice, with Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer adding a goal each for Croatia.
Game 3
Croatia’s third group game was against Belgium, and it needed only a draw to get to the Round Of 16. The Belgian camp was rocked with internal disagreements over the choice of players that start games. Kevin De Bruyne, one of Belgium’s best players, even told the media they had no chance of going through the tournament.
Croatia knew they needed only a point to be guaranteed a place in the Round Of 16, so they stuck to their job and finished the game strongly. With Morocco and Croatia advancing, Belgium and Canada could not qualify for the next round.
Round Of 16
Croatia defeated Japan on penalties to qualify for the quarter-finals in their last match. The Japanese had one of their best games but could not capitalize on their performance.
In the end, the game went to penalties, and the Japanese players could not convert their penalties. Croatia was the one that progressed.
Brazil – Road To Quarter Finals
Brazil is one of the strongest teams in this year’s World Cup tournament and is among the few expected to become champions. The Brazilian players play in some of the best soccer clubs on the planet, with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Rafinha, Thiago Silva, etc.
Brazil qualified for the Round Of 16 by securing 6 points from the first two games. They lost the third game against Cameroon by one goal, but this did not affect Brazil’s status in their progression to the next stage.
They played Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon in Group G to come out as winners.
Game 1
Brazil faced a stubborn Serbia in their first game, who did not give in to pressure till midway through the second half. Brazil started the game strongly and had 23 attempts throughout. However, they were able to register only 9 on target.
Serbia had 41 percent possession throughout the game, which is impossible against a side like Brazil. However, Brazil’s first goal came through Richarlison in the 62nd minute. He sealed the game with another goal in the 73rd minute.
Game 2
In their second group-stage game, Switzerland gave Brazil a tough challenge, losing only one goal. The Brazilians faced a physical side and could score only one goal through Casemiro, a midfield maestro in his own right.
Brazil had 54% possession as compared to Switzerland’s 46%. Though the possession seems similar, the Swiss players could not register a shot on target.
Game 3
Brazil fielded a weakened side in their last group-stage game against Cameroon since they had already qualified for the next round. The game seemed to end in a draw, but Cameroon’s Aboubakar had other plans.
He scored the winning goal in extra time, giving the Cameroonians something to cheer about. However, the result did not impact the group, as Brazil and Switzerland qualified for the next round.
Round Of 16
Neymar’s return to Brazil’s first team in the pre-quarters saw a strong team that trashed South Korea 4-1. Soccer fans expected South Korea to fight better, but the Brazilians were too strong for their liking.
Vinicius Junior scored the first goal in the 7th minute, and Neymar followed it up with a goal in the 13th minute. Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta also chipped in with a goal each in the 29th and 36th minutes.
South Korea managed to get a consolation goal in the 76th minute through a half-volley from Paik Seung-Ho. Though it was a consolation, it got the South Korean fans on their feet as it was a beauty from outside the box.
Croatia vs Brazil – Preview
The quarter-final game between Croatia and Brazil will be a tough one to call since both teams have different playing styles. The Croatians are a more physical and defensive side that likes to take advantage of long balls and set pieces.
On the other hand, Brazil will be looking to keep possession and play more free-flowing soccer. No matter which team wins, watching a game with world-class players vying for the ultimate prize in soccer will be exciting.
Where To Watch Croatia vs Brazil?
You can watch Croatia vs. Brazil by getting an IPTV subscription on Roomba TV. Roomba TV streams all types of sports streaming like the FIFA World Cup 2022, NFL streams, MLB streams, NBA streams, etc.
Watch PPV live events and other TV shows and movies on Roomba TV. They also offer you the opportunity to become an IPTV reseller through its IPTV reselling program.
