Croatia ready to ‘stand up’ against Brazil but ‘favourites’

hot in front

Brazil – Croatia and Netherlands – Argentina

“Let’s be clear, Brazil is the favorite. » Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is under no illusions as his men face Neymar and his team-mates to reach the last four of the World Cup (4:00). The five-time world champions, who defeated South Korea (4-1) in the 1/8 finals, demonstrated their offensive power after the match.

The contrast with Vatreni is striking. Since the start of the tournament, the finalists of the 2018 edition have been sluggish, missing out on a place in the quarter-finals thanks to goalkeeper Livakovic, who made three saves in the decisive penalty shootout against Japan (1-1, 3-1 tab). . History is not in favor of Luka Modric and his family either: Brazil have won the two previous meetings between the two teams at the World Cup. But Zlatko Dalic is convinced: Croatia can do it “stand up” For the Auriverdes. “In any case, we will give our maximum, we will not put down our weapons before the match. »

At 20.00 it will be the turn of Lionel Messi and his Albiceleste to hit the track against the Netherlands. Argentinians would be well advised to be wary of a revanchist Batavian team: the South Americans knocked them out of the final at the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo (0:0, 4-2 pen). This important match for the semi-finals is a real “classic” of the World Cup: in five confrontations, the Netherlands won two matches, Argentina won two matches and drew two.

water in the gas

International participation is below expectations

Qatar welcomed 765,859 international visitors during the first seventeen days of the competition, more than half of whom have now left, according to a report obtained by Reuters news agency from the organizers of the 2022 World Cup. An influx of 1.2 million people was expected during the month-long event.

There is now little chance of a significant increase in visitors: there are only eight games left to play. According to the organizers’ calculations, the period from November 24 to 28 is the period in which the flow of international visitors is most attracted. Thirty-two of the full group stage nations were still represented there, with at least four matches scheduled each day.

Qatar Post

Vinicius Jr. when he rose in a press conference

Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior’s press conference before the 1/4 final match against Croatia was briefly interrupted by a cat that appeared on the stage. The animal was publicly pushed back by Seleção’s press secretary, prompting some horrified reactions from journalists present.

Cats have certainly been a recurring element of this World Cup, from Ousmane Dembélé’s phobia to England’s John Stones and Kyle Walker’s obsession with Dave, the stray cat they promised to adopt in the event of the Three Lions’ eventual victory in the tournament. .

A grain of sand

Sixty two

Like the number of players currently in Qatar under contract with a Premier League club. The English Championship is the most represented championship in the country’s teams with eight quarter-finalists, ahead of the Spanish League (thirty players in eight clubs) and the Italian Serie A (twenty-three players in nine clubs). For clubs, the two Manchesters – City and United – have the strongest player contingents with eleven players each. Then comes Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax Amsterdam (seven players).

Quick sands

“The Portuguese Football Federation The captain of the national team clarifies that Cristiano Ronaldo never threatened to leave the national team. […] in Qatar. »

With two days to go before the Seleção v Morocco quarter-final, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) wanted to get things right. Due to daily exercise Note, “CR7” almost got a taste of his indefinite period in his Round of 16 win against Switzerland (6-1). There would be heated exchanges with manager Fernando Santos, with the 37-year-old saying he was ready to pack his bags. “Cristiano Ronaldo sets a unique record every day in the service of the national team and the country, which should be respected and undeniably affirms the commitment”FPF insisted in a press release.