Croatia is daring to dream again after coming through a grueling last 16 tie against Japan on penalties, with goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic the hero as he became just the third goalkeeper to save three spot-kicks in a World Cup shootout. Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia side now appear in the quarter-finals for the third time, and having progressed to the semi-finals in their previous two world cup quarter-finals ties, they have proved their credentials at this stage off late.
After scoring the equalizer against Japan, Iavan Perisic moved level with Dovor Suker as Croatia’s leading goal scorer at the world cup with six goals, and will be hungry to break that record here. Looking to do damage at the other end will be Neymar, who returned from injury to score in victory over South Korea, and knows a repeat of his brace in 2014’s meeting with Croatia would see him overtake Pele as Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer
Croatia have won all three of their world cup penalty shootouts, including in back-to-back games en route to the 2018 final.
Brazil’s Cafu is the only player to appear in three consecutive FIFA world cup finals, doing so in 1994, 1998, and 2002 (W2, L1)
Who goes through to the next round tonight, Croatia or Brazil?
