Croatia vs Brazil prediction: WORLD: World Cup – Play Offs betting tips on match 2022-12-08 15:00.
Croatia are daring to dream again after coming through a gruelling last 16 tie against Japan on penalties, with goalkeeper Dominik Livaković the hero as he became just the third goalkeeper to save three spot-kicks in a World Cup shootout. Zlatko Dalić’s Croatia side now appear in the quarter-finals for the third time, and having progressed to the semi-finals in their previous two World Cup quarter-final ties, they have proved their credentials at this stage of late.
The 2018 World Cup runners up have relied on their big game experience at this tournament to pull them through some lethargic performances, but their form remains impressive, losing just once since their elimination from Euro 2020 last summer (W13, D6). That run should see confidence high, and given Croatia’s only loss at the World Cup since 2014 came to France in the final four years ago, they’re certainly a tough nut to crack on international football’s biggest stage.
If there’s a side that can break them open though it’s surely Brazil, who are among the leading candidates to win the trophy after they produced a mesmeric performance to demolish South Korea 4-1 in the round of 16. Tite’s men rattled in all four of their goals in a devastating first half that allowed Brazil to slip into second gear and preserve energy by withdrawing some of their big hitters ahead of this quarter-final clash with the Croatians.
The record five-time world champions boast a dominant H2H record, winning both World Cup clashes against Croatia while avoiding defeat in two other meetings (W1, D1). If there is a slight knock to Brazil’s confidence though, it likely stems from their poor recent record against European opposition in the knockouts, with all of their five exits from the World Cup after 1990 coming at the hands of European sides.
Players to watch: After scoring the equaliser against Japan, Ivan Perišić moved level with Davor Šuker as Croatia’s leading goalscorer at the World Cup with six goals, and will be hungry to break that record here. Looking to do damage at the other end will be Neymar, who returned from injury to score in victory over South Korea, and knows a repeat of his brace in 2014’s meeting with Croatia would see him overtake Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Hot stat: Croatia have won all three of their World Cup penalty shootouts, including in back-to-back games en route to the 2018 final.
World Cup trivia: Brazil’s Cafu is the only player to appear in three consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, doing so in 1994, 1998 and 2002 (W2, L1).