Match Previews

globe World Cup 2018 Round 1/4 Final
Russia vs. Croatia
Sat 07 July 2018 19:00
Referee
Sandro Ricci (Brazil)
Weather at KO
Travel Info
Distance

Russia

Last updated: Sun 08 July 2018 08:40
In Brief

Secured a miraculous penalty win over Spain in the last round. Aleksandr Kokorin, Giorgi Jikia and Viktor Vasin missing through injury. Yuri Zhirkov taken off injured last time out.

Looking Back

Russia made it into the quarter final of their home World Cup with a very solid, mainly defensive performance that produced a sensational result.

The 120 minutes plus penalties that Stanislav Cherchesov's side had to go through to make it into the last 8 would have certainly taken a lot out of the team physically. But mentally the team will be on a high after beating one of the better sides in the world.

Artem Dzyuba scored his third goal of the tournament last time out against Spain. He has established himself in the starting team since the beginning of the competition and is in confident mood. Midfielder Denis Cheryshev also has three goals.

Looking Ahead

While the squad is very strong, the trio of Aleksandr Kokorin, Giorgi Jikia and Viktor Vasin would have made the squad had they been fit. But the three of them miss out with serious knee injuries.

Veteran wing back Yuri Zhirkov who has surprisingly played an important role so far in the competition went off against Spain with a thigh injury. He is a major doubt here with little time to recover and Vladimir Granat will be getting prepared to start.

Cherchesov moved to a back 5 against Spain as he correctly expected his side to need to soak up plenty of pressure. With this game likely to play out in a similar fashion the coach will not want to change the winning approach. That is likely to mean that Cheryshev will once again miss out.

Talisman Alan Dzagoev was an unused substitute in the team's win over Spain on his return to the side following injury. With a few more days training behind him the midfielder could well see some play here as he is a vital member of the team and someone who could help tip the match in Russia's favour.

Points of Interest

Russia have never beaten Croatia. The pair met in qualifying for Euro 2008 when they shared two 0 - 0 draws. In 2015 Croatia won 3 - 1 in a friendly.

Croatia

Last updated: Sun 08 July 2018 08:40
In Brief

Croatia are in the quarter finals after eliminating Denmark on penalties. Mateo Kovacic is the sole concern.

Looking Back

Croatia are through to the last eight of the World Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Denmark. It was a game of few chances in which the Croatians wasted a golden opportunity when Luka Modric had a 115th-minute penalty saved. However, they kept the belief and claimed a penalty shoot-out win.

The Blazers are now set to take on hosts Russia in a bid to reach the semi-finals and repeat their historical success from the 1998 World Cup, when they finished third.

Several players, including Ivan Rakitic, who scored the winning penalty, commented after the previous game that the pressure on them was immense, but that they felt that the manner of the victory proved that this Croatian side has the winning mentality that had been missing in other recent competitions.

Looking Ahead

Zlatko Dalic seems to know what his best eleven is and changes to the lineup that faced Denmark are not to be expected.

The sole new concern is Mateo Kovacic, who picked up a shoulder injury against Denmark. He has not been ruled out of the previous game.

Points of Interest

This will be Croatia's second-ever World Cup quarter-final game. The previous one saw them crush Germany with a 3:0 scoreline to reach the last four back in 1998.

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Croatia

Last updated: Sun 08 July 2018 08:40
In Brief

Croatia are in the quarter finals after eliminating Denmark on penalties. Mateo Kovacic is the sole concern.

Looking Back

Croatia are through to the last eight of the World Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Denmark. It was a game of few chances in which the Croatians wasted a golden opportunity when Luka Modric had a 115th-minute penalty saved. However, they kept the belief and claimed a penalty shoot-out win.

The Blazers are now set to take on hosts Russia in a bid to reach the semi-finals and repeat their historical success from the 1998 World Cup, when they finished third.

Several players, including Ivan Rakitic, who scored the winning penalty, commented after the previous game that the pressure on them was immense, but that they felt that the manner of the victory proved that this Croatian side has the winning mentality that had been missing in other recent competitions.

Looking Ahead

Zlatko Dalic seems to know what his best eleven is and changes to the lineup that faced Denmark are not to be expected.

The sole new concern is Mateo Kovacic, who picked up a shoulder injury against Denmark. He has not been ruled out of the previous game.

Points of Interest

This will be Croatia's second-ever World Cup quarter-final game. The previous one saw them crush Germany with a 3:0 scoreline to reach the last four back in 1998.

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Probable Starting 11
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Key

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75% - Chance of availability
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Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

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*Based on Available Players
Game Score
Round Group A
Russia - Saudi Arabia 5 - 0
Egypt - Uruguay 0 - 1
Russia - Egypt 3 - 1
Uruguay - Saudi Arabia 1 - 0
Saudi Arabia - Egypt 2 - 1
Uruguay - Russia 3 - 0
Round Group B
Morocco - Iran 0 - 1
Portugal - Spain 3 - 3
Portugal - Morocco 1 - 0
Iran - Spain 0 - 1
Iran - Portugal 1 - 1
Spain - Morocco 2 - 2
Round Group C
France - Australia 2 - 1
Peru - Denmark 0 - 1
Denmark - Australia 1 - 1
France - Peru 1 - 0
Denmark - France 0 - 0
Australia - Peru 0 - 2
Round Group D
Argentina - Iceland 1 - 1
Croatia - Nigeria 2 - 0
Argentina - Croatia 0 - 3
Nigeria - Iceland 2 - 0
Iceland - Croatia 1 - 2
Nigeria - Argentina 1 - 2
Round Group E
Costa Rica - Serbia 0 - 1
Brazil - Switzerland 1 - 1
Brazil - Costa Rica 2 - 0
Serbia - Switzerland 1 - 2
Serbia - Brazil 0 - 2
Switzerland - Costa Rica 2 - 2
Round Group F
Mexico - Germany 1 - 0
Sweden - South Korea 1 - 0
South Korea - Mexico 1 - 2
Germany - Sweden 2 - 1
Mexico - Sweden 0 - 3
South Korea - Germany 2 - 0
Round Group G
Belgium - Panama 3 - 0
Tunisia - England 1 - 2
Belgium - Tunisia 5 - 2
England - Panama 6 - 1
England - Belgium 0 - 1
Panama - Tunisia 1 - 2
Round Group H
Colombia - Japan 1 - 2
Poland - Senegal 1 - 2
Japan - Senegal 2 - 2
Poland - Colombia 0 - 3
Senegal - Colombia 0 - 1
Japan - Poland 0 - 1
Round 1/8 Final
France - Argentina 4 - 3
Uruguay - Portugal 2 - 1
Spain - Russia 1 - 1
(4 : 5 AP)
Croatia - Denmark 1 - 1
(4 : 3 AP)
Brazil - Mexico 2 - 0
Belgium - Japan 3 - 2
Sweden - Switzerland 1 - 0
Colombia - England 1 - 1
(3 : 4 AP)
Round 1/4 Final
France - Uruguay 2 - 0
Brazil - Belgium 1 - 2
Sweden - England 0 - 2
Russia - Croatia 2 - 2
(3 : 4 AP)
Round 1/2 Final
France - Belgium 1 - 0
Croatia - England 2 - 1
(AET)
Round 3rd Place Play-off
Belgium - England 2 - 0
Round Final
France - Croatia 4 - 2