Croatia and Brazil will kick off the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Friday afternoon.
The Herald brings to you seven interesting facts about the game.
- The referee of the game is 37-year-old Englishman, Michael Oliver. Oliver, who received his FIFA Badge in 2012, was promoted to the UEFA Elite Group of Referees in 2018. Oliver was appointed to take charge of the final of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
- The game will be played at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, where Morocco knocked out Spain in the round of 16.
- Brazil and Croatia met for the first time ever in a friendly game played on August 17, 2005. The game ended 1-1.
- Brazil have not lost in four previous meetings with Croatia in all competitions.
- Brazil ended Croatia’s 10-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory at the 2006 World Cup finals.
- Brazil’s Neymar is the highest goalscorer in the Croatia vs Brazil fixture, netting three times.
- Niko Kranjcar is the only Croatia player ever to have scored against Brazil. He achieved the feat in 2014.