World Cup: Croatia stun Brazil in penalty shootout - reaction

1. FT: Croatia 1-1 Brazil - Croatia win penalty shootout 4-2
2. Neymar opened scoring with superb solo goal in extra time before Petkovic levelled
3. Croatia will face Netherlands or Argentina in last four
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'Modric inspires extra energy to run'

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Croatia are likely to pose the toughest test so far for five-time champions Brazil.

While some have called Croatia an ageing squad, coach Dalic has been pointing out that there has been evolution.

Only four of the players who started the defeat by France in the 2018 final were in Dalic's team against Japan in Monday's last-16 game.

However, their progress in Qatar has again been orchestrated by 37-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who has indicated this would likely to be his last major tournament.

"When you see people like Luka Modric running and dying on the pitch, it gives us younger players extra energy to run," said Croatia full-back Josip Juranovic.

Modric is the 'father figure'

Luka Modric is more than just a playmaker for Croatia.

The Real Madrid midfielder led his country to the World Cup final in 2018 and now, with a quarter-final against favourites Brazil looming on Friday, there is an ambition to emulate that achievement - and it might not even be his last try at a major international trophy.

At the age of 37, he remains as important for Croatia as ever. The brain behind his team's attacking approach, his influence is just as key off the pitch, acting as a father figure to the new generation of young players.

Read more about Modric in Lukas Vrablik's piece for BBC Sport.

Neymar might be Brazil's talisman but you could argue he doesn't have the same influence on his team as this fella does on Croatia...

'It's not all about Neymar'

Tim Vickery

BBC Sport South American football expert

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It’s easy to criticise Neymar but he is a giver. He is very popular with his Brazil teammates.

He is seen as someone who is willing to go the extra mile.

It’s a Neymar who is thinking of the group, it’s not all about him as it was four and eight years ago.

Neymar has Pele in his sights

As well as hoping to lead Brazil to a record-extending sixth World Cup title, Neymar is also on the cusp of history.

The Brazil forward needs just two goals to surpass Pele, who is Brazil's all-time men's top scorer with 77 Fifa-registered goals.

It is a target Neymar is clearly determined to beat, telling French football programme Telefoot last month: "I hope to get past him. I'm going to talk to my team-mates about it and tell them to help me score so I can finally get there."

However, there is confusion as the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) disagree with Fifa's calculations and reckon Pele actually scored 95 goals for the Selecao.

BBC Sport

Neymar has only bagged the one goal so far in Qatar but will hoping to change that today...

Who will win the Golden Boot?

Will anyone on show today end up with the Golden Boot? They have some catching up to do.

Kylian Mbappe is leading the race with five goals, but England's Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford are on his tail with three each.

Not to mention Goncalo Ramos whose quickfire hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland fired him into contention.

But who do you think will be the World Cup's top scorer?

You've got about 20 minutes to vote before the poll closes.

So vote now!

'National unity at its finest'

Katy Watson

South America correspondent in São Paulo

Brazilians take World Cup match days very seriously.

It’s not given as an official holiday but, apart from essential services, everything shuts down during the game - pharmacies close, supermarkets, shops and offices.

You’d have to be a pretty mean employer to ask your workers to carry on through the games. It’s just culturally unacceptable.

Today though, Brazilians have taken it to a whole new level. The match starts at midday here in Sao Paulo - so few people have turned up to work at all.

The biggest city in the southern hemisphere is dead - there were hardly any cars on the roads even with three hours still to go.

Most schools are shutting early, everyone is dressed in the Brazilian colours and they’re getting ready to support their team.

This is more than just football, this is heart-warming national unity at its finest.

Think there is a lot of Brazilian support in Qatar? Imagine the scenes back home.

The streets of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, etc, are set to be rather quiet for the next few hours...

A river of green and yellow

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport at Education City, Qatar

BBC Sport

There is a river of Brazil shirts and flags snaking its way around Education City Stadium at the moment, and fans of the five-time champions outnumber those sporting Croatia's distinctive checkerboard number by at least 10 to one.

It will be the same in the stands too, which is only going to make a difficult task even harder for the 2018 runners-up.

But it appears the Croatia fans might find themselves drowned out during the match...

Drumming up support for Croatia

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport at Education City, Qatar

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There aren't too many Croatia fans here, but the ones I've seen are making a lot of noise. It does help if you have got a big drum, I suppose.

Half an hour to go!

This is your 30-minute warning: get your Friday wrapped up quickly and settle down for the first two QFs.

Looks like the atmosphere outside the Education City Stadium in Qatar is banging - literally!

Here's a gander at what is happening courtesy of our man on the ground...

Apeing around

Talking of predictions...

Gibbon Kent and his pack have apparently been correctly picking the winning teams at the Zagreb Zoo.

Not entirely sure who they are going for here, but it seems to me they have chosen food from the boxes with the Croatian flag...

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'Brazil have 70% chance of winning'

Simon Gleave

Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

Sure we all have our own thoughts on who is going to win today from watching previous matches - but what do the analytics say?

Data experts Gracenote have been making predictions on each match at the World Cup, based on over one million simulations that produce estimates showing the most likely team to fill each position in the knockout stages

"Gracenote's number one team Brazil face 12th ranked Croatia in the first quarter-final of World Cup 2022," says Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen's Gracenote.

"Brazil have 70% chance of progressing to the semi-finals with Croatia on 30% according to Gracenote's forecasts.

"If Croatia knock Brazil out it will be one of the most shocking eliminations in World Cup history."

Unfortunately for the Croats, the data suggests the team has an uphill task to beat Brazil today...

Can Croatia finally beat Brazil? - stats of the day

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• Brazil have never lost in four previous meetings with Croatia in all competitions (winning three and drawing one)
• Croatia have lost four of their five World Cup games against South American sides, with the exception being a 3-0 win over Argentina in 2018
• Since beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final, Brazil have lost each of their past five World Cup knockout stage games against European nations
• In a run going back to Euro 2008, seven of Croatia's last eight knockout stage games at major tournaments have gone to extra time and they have progressed from all four such games at the World Cup - three via penalty shootout.

Croatia, it seems, also have Santa on their side!

Luka Modric and company will be hoping to get their hands on a few presents today...

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'Easy to forget Croatia were finalists'

Nedum Onuoha

Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

This is going to be a better game than some people anticipate.

It’s very easy to forget that Croatia were at the finals in the last World Cup and I think because we saw how well Brazil did in the last round, we expect to see that all the time.

It’s a very interesting tie.

With Brazil looking in ominous form, many have been predicting a thrashing for Croatia today.

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha isn't so sure...