Match 58: Croatia vs. Brazil [QF]

Beast of a defender.
Him along with the Croatian keeper and their #22 have been stellar.

That said, 'Gvardiol' sounds like the name of a generic anti-histamine.

 

Croatia very much in it, but if Brazil goes through the invulnerability factor of Brasil will be gone.

 

Do you not consider Croatia as a European powerhouse?

 

No. They are upper 2nd tier for me.

 

Thats the best defended 90 minutes I seen at the WC so far by any team.
Croatia were a wall, from midfield to defense, to the keeper

 

A lot of desperate defending now. Croatia is spent, but if they hold on 30 minutes I would back them for PK win.

 

Generally yes, but this is one of the weakest teams Croatia has fielded in years. Still a good team, that can cause upsets, but not a powerhouse.

 

Croatia is anti-football powerhouse yes

0 shots on goal LOL

 

What they lack is a proper Mandzukic style CF to convert all those crosses.
Good team otherwise, IMHO.

 

In primarily a defensive capacity, which only proves Brazil has dictated.

 

I think even the UEFA powerhouse teams will have a tough time dealing with that Croatian defense.

 

Croatia has the best midfield in the tournament by some distance. They just lack quality in attack outside of Perisic and Kramaric.

 

doesn't it sound like a croatian word for Gladiator lol

 

That Croatian goalie is brilliant!

 

The first half was quite even. 2nd half dominated by Brazil.

 

8 shots on target suggests otherwise. The goalie has cut Brasil off. Good defensive display, but Morocco vs Spain was more impressive.

 

impressive how Spain managed to pass side to side for 90 minutes straight

 

I have the same opinion, however Croatia reaching the final again would somehow change my mind.
You don’t reach back to back final without a top team, no matter the way you went through.

I underestimated them before this World Cup started, especially their great mental strength.
That team is hard as hell to kill!

 

I still think Spain would’ve done very well if they had a good striker.

 

Some people really are prisoners of the moment.

 

Some yellow cards clearly forgotten for croatians though.

 

they would have done better I agree, even with the little bit Morata played they improved.

just passively passing forever won't cut it though. They need to fuse that with some aggressiveness.

 

I thought Spain vs Morocco was painfully boring. Not more than 5-6 instances of exciting play.

Portugal vs Morocco would be an open game.

 

Prisoners of the moment? Who would you say has a better, more complete midfield?

 

I will be kind of bummed if this goes to PK's. Never been a fan of deciding games on PK's