Today Brazil, Croatia, Argentina and the Netherlands challenge each other in the quarter-finals of the World Cup hosted by Qatar.
Brazil, who have won the title five times, will take on last season’s runners-up Croatia at the Education City Stadium. Argentina also plays the Netherlands at Lusail Stadium.
Brazil has always been at the center of attention of football fans from all over the world, thanks to the fluid and creative performances of the Seleçao players in every sporting event, and in this edition hosted by Qatar.
In the round of 16, the Brazilians did not give South Korea a chance to resist, and attacked fiercely to score four goals in the first half of the match which ended in their favor with the score 4-1, so that Coach Tite enjoyed the performance and danced with his players after the third goal, scored by Richalson.
Brazil’s performance in the round of 16 shows what many expect to qualify for next month’s final of 18, and the Brazilian team is looking forward to providing more entertainment in today’s match.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic says: “What I’ve seen so far, when you look at their players, their quality, their skills and their value, is really terrifying. We have to go into the match with a lot of confidence, self-confidence, look for our chances and enjoy the opportunity against Brazil.”
This is the toughest test for team-mates of Luka Modric – the 37-year-old Croatia captain – who indicated ahead of the tournament that this was likely to be his last major tournament.
happy memories
Argentina’s meeting with the Netherlands at the World Cup still evokes many fond memories, across different generations.
Among those memories is Mario Kempes’ goal that gave Argentina victory in the 1978 World Cup final, when he scored twice against the Netherlands in the tournament that hosted his country, or that splendid reception by Dennis Bergkamp to score against Argentina and qualify for the Semifinals of the 1998 World Cup. There is a competitive career, a long time between the two countries, which adds to the excitement of the match.
This could be the last game in which we see Messi in the shirt of the Argentine, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, in any international occasion.
It could also be the last time we see veteran coach Louis van Gaal in stadiums.
Argentina qualified to Group C in first place, after suffering a sudden defeat by Saudi Arabia, then won the last 16 against Australia by two goals to one.
As for the Netherlands, they progressed through the elimination rounds, leading the first group, then eliminated the United States, winning by three goals to one.
