Croatia v Brazil – Preview | 2022 FIFA World Cup | Quarter Finals | 9 December 2022
2022 FIFA World Cup Quarter Finals | Croatia v Brazil | Preview
Preview of the Quarter-final between Croatia and Brazil taking place at the Education City Stadium
Luka Modric 🆚 Thiago Silva
It’s been a long journey to the #FIFAWorldCup Quarter-Finals.
See what got them here in Captains, free on FIFA+ 📺 #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 9, 2022
Croatia team news:
Croatia duo Borna Sosa and Josip Stanisic both missed the win over Japan due to illness and a muscle injury respectively; the former should be available to return and could replace Borna Barisic at left-back, while the latter remains doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Dalic is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup, with midfield maestros Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic all expected to retain their places on Friday – both Modric and Kovacic are just one booking away from suspension along with Barisic and Dejan Lovren.
Indeed, Lovren is set to continue his partnership in defence alongside sought-after starlet Josko Gvardiol, while Marko Livaja and Ante Budimir will be battling to displace Bruno Petkovic as the central striker. Perisic and Andrej Kramaric, meanwhile, are poised to start again on the flanks.
Brazil team news
As for Brazil, they will be without Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles, who are ruled out for the rest of the World Cup with knee injuries, while Tite has revealed that Alex Sandro is unlikely to feature as he continues to recover from a hip problem.
Sandro’s Juventus teammate Danilo is therefore set to continue at left-back, joining Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Eder Militao in the back four.
Militao is one of three Selecao stars along with Fred and Bruno Guimaraes who are only one yellow card away from missing a potential semi-final bout, and the latter two are expected to begin again on the substitutes’ bench, with Casemiro and Paqueta preferred by Tite to start in centre-midfield.
Star attacker Neymar recovered from an ankle injury to start and score against South Korea, and he is poised to continue in an advanced role in between wingers Raphinha and Vinicius Junior, while Richarlison is set to lead the line up front.
Croatia possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Kramaric, Petkovic, Perisic
Brazil possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo; Casemiro, Paqueta; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Jr; Richarlison
