On Friday 9 December 2022, the first of two days of quarter-final matches at this year’s FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar.
The first quarter-final took place at the Education City Stadium between Croatia (losing finalists 4 years ago and who defeated Japan on penalties in the last-16 match) and Brazil (5-times winner; ranked #1 in the FIFA rankings and who turned on the style to defeat South Korea in their last-16 match). Unlike in most matches up to this point, there seemed only to be a few empty seats here and there throughout the stadium.
The match started with Brazil in possession but finding it difficult to get out of their own half with Croatia pressing high. On 4 minutes, though, Vinicius Junior managed to get a shot on target, curling in from the left, but with Croatia’s goalkeeper, Livakovic, saving comfortably. Whenever Neymar got the ball, the expectation would soar inside the stadium that something special could happen and the decibel levels rose accordingly. On 12 minutes, Pasalic had a break down Croatia’s right flank, but Perisic could not connect with the cross. Modric dispossessed Casemiro and tried to tee up a shot, but the Brazilian defence had closed ranks. On 20 minutes, Vinicius Junior ran into a crowded box, played a 1-2 with Richarlison, but his mis-timed shot was well saved. Croatia were playing with a strong, fixed formation; however, Brazil had all the creativity cards. Neymar and Richarlison both had half-chances as the ball started to remain more in Croatia’s half. On 24 minutes, the referee brandished the first yellow card of the game when Danilo fouled Juranovic as the Croatian threatened up the right wing; the second came on 40 minutes when Brozovic was yellow carded. HT 0-0; Croatia had managed to contain Brazil during the first half. Within 2 minutes of the restart, Brazil created consternation in Croatia’s defence, with both Neymar and Vinicius Junior having half-chances as the ball bobbled around the 6-yard area. But it was not all Brazil as Croatia recovered from this pressure to bring the ball up the pitch and threaten Brazil’s goal, albeit briefly. On 54 minutes, Neymar ran onto a through ball from Richarlison but saw his near-post shot smothered by Livakovic. The first substitution saw Brazil’s Raphinha replaced by Antony on 56 minutes. The tempo of the game had increased, with both sides attacking and counter-attacking. Perisic curled a shot from inside the box, but it was just wide. On 65 minutes, Brazil made another change, with Rodrygo on for Vicinius Junior who had been having a relatively quiet game. Almost immediately, the ball bounced for Lucas Paquetá but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper. Casemiro then received a yellow card for a challenge. On 72 minutes, Croatia made a double substitution with Vlasic and Petkovic replacing Pasalic and Kramaric. On 76 minutes, Rodrygo, Richarlison and Neymar combined well with a sequence of one-touch passing, but Neymar’s shot was well saved by Livakovic who sensed the threat. With 10 minutes left of normal time, the ball was pulled back to Lucas Paquetá whose shot had the power and direction but was well saved; Neymar was on hand, though, to pounce if Livakovic fumbled, but he held firm. Another Brazil change, with Pedro coming on for Richarlison. Croatia attacked, Brazil counter-attacked, crossed the ball, got a couple of shot in, won a corner, but could not get past the well-organised Croatian defence. Croatia won back possession and were happy to pass it around midfield, with Brazil happy to wait to pounce, then race upfield and put pressure on the goal area. 4 added minutes. FT 0-0, two 15-minute periods of extra time to be played. Brazil resumed on the front foot; on 8 minutes, Rodrygo curled in a cross but it was beyond the reach of his team-mates. On 12 minutes, Croatia had the best opportunity of the match; with two in attack against 5 defenders, somehow Pedro got in a cross but the shot was blasted over the Brazil goal without troubling Alisson. 1 minute of added tine. Suddenly the Brazil attack came alive, Neymar getting the ball, playing a 1-2 with Pedro, getting past a defender, rounding the goalkeeper and shooting into the top of the net from an almost impossible angle. HT in extra time. 1-0 to Brazil. Neymar had scored his 77th international goal, level with Pele. On 117 minutes, with just 3 minutes remaining, Croatia drew level through substitute Bruno Petkovic with what was Croatia's first shot on target in the match. FT after extra time: 1-1. Penalties. Croatia scored theirs (Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric and Mislav Orsic), but Rodrygo, first up for the South Americans, saw Livakovic guess right and force a save. Then Marquinhos struck the post to leave Croatia the winners (4-2 on penalties) and through to the semi-final, with Brazil and Neymar out of the tournament.
Since winning the World Cup in 2002, Brazil have been knocked out of five successive World Cups each time by a European team. On the other hand, Croatia are knock-out masters with their well-organised teamwork and formations, with their goalkeeper Livakovic immense in this game. They will meet the winners of the later game in the first semi-final.
The second quarter-final saw Argentina (who saw off Australia in their last-16 natch) play the Netherlands (who defeated the USA in the last-16) in a replay of the unforgettable 1978 final. Played at the Lusail Economic Stadium, the South American fans were by far the most vocal.
Both teams started off tentatively, preferring to build slowly. There was little goalmouth action in the opening quarter of an hour, save for a lapse in concentration in the Dutch defence almost letting in Messi, but they recovered in time. Both defences were establishing their presence, with Van Dijk solid for the Dutch and Romero immense for the Argentinians. On 21 minutes, Messi had an opportunity but his left-footed strike was off target. Both teams continued to build slowly from the back, up to midfield but then losing it to well-organised defences or sloppy passing. On 32 minutes, Argentina put a series of sweet passed together, but De Paul shot straight and weakly at the Dutch goalkeeper. Almost immediately, Molina put the South Americans ahead following a great assist by Messi, but Molina still had work to do and fire past the despairing dive of Noppert. 1-0 to Argentina. Messi had another shot on goal on 39 minutes but it gad no power behind it. The Netherlands had a free kick on the edge of Argentina’s box but nothing came of it. The first yellow card was for the Argentinian player Acuña, then the Dutch player Timber for a bad foul. Almost immediately, Argentina’s Romero received a yellow card for an intentional hand ball. 5 minutes added time. HT 1-0 to Argentina. After the break, the Netherlands made two substitutions with Berghuis on for Bergwijn, and Koopmeiners on for de Roon - one up front and one in midfield. Argentina were content to retain possession and passed the ball up, back and cross-field; there was little that the Dutch could do. On 57 minutes, Argentina broke through the Dutch defence - which had started pressing up and leaving gaps behind - but the move finished when MacAllister lost his footing. A couple of minutes later, Messi went forward on a mazy run and was brought down just outside the box. From the resulting free kick, Messi whipped the ball over the goal; it went over the bar - just - and rippled the top of the net. The Dutch made another substitution as De Jong came on for Blind; for Argentina, De Paul made way for Paredes. Try as they might, the Dutch just could not find a way through the Argentinian midfield, let alone their defence. It may not have been pretty football to watch, but the South Americans were controlling all aspects of the match. On 71 minutes, Argentina were awarded a penalty when Dumfries was adjudged to have brought down Acuña in the box. Messi had missed a penalty earlier in the tournament, but he made no mistake, firing it past Noppert who stayed rooted to the spot. 2-0 to Argentina. The Dutch managed a break up the pitch but Martínez plucked the cross out of the air to the consternation of the Dutch. On 77 minutes, both teams made a couple more substitutions, the Dutch to try to create something, and Argentina to sit on the lead and repel potential attacks. On 80 minutes, the Dutch made a break up the left flank, but they could not get a cross in. 2 minutes later, Berghuis whipped in a ball into the box, with Weghorst on hand to flick the ball into the back of the net. 2-1 to Argentina. The long, high ball was working, so they tried the same tactic again, this time from the left flank. And it almost worked again, but the ball was just over the bar. On 88 minutes, Dybala kicked the ball into the Dutch dugout after committing a foul, whereupon the Dutch substitutes ran onto the pitch, with a melée ensuing. It broke up as quickly as it started, but it highlighted that the tie was on a knife-edge. 10 minutes added time announced. The Dutch were awarded a free kick outside the Argentinian box, but the free kick went straight into the wall. The Dutch continued to launch long, high balls, but the Argentinian defenders were equal to the task. 90 seconds remaining and the Dutch threw almost everyone forward. The ball went high and they were awarded a free kick on the edge of Argentina’s box. With a cleverly-worked move, the ball went past wall and Weghorst slotted it past Martínez in the Argentina goal. 2-2! Extra time! Tempers boiled over and the referee brandished a number of yellow cards, bringing to 12 the total number awarded in this game alone. The first period of extra time saw Argentina retaining possession and passing the ball confidently. But they were visibly tiring, as were the Dutch who were just given scraps to try and create something, completely transformed from the side that had scored two late goals only minutes before. Neither side were creating chances. HT in extra time, still 2-2. Both sides made a couple more substitutions each. On 23 minutes, Argentina could have got a goal following great work by Di Maria down the right wing but the shot was blocked. Then Martinez’ shot was just over. Argentina had come alive with the Netherlands hanging on. A corner to the South Americans, but the header was agonisingly too high. The Dutch had an attack but Martinez in goal came out to the rescue. Another dutch attack and Martinez saved again. Up the other end and the other Martinez had a powerful shot saved by Noppert. And Messi had a shot deflected for a corner. Di Maria’s corner was goal-bound but Noppert tipped it over. From the corner, Martinez hit the post - so near yet so far. FT 2-2; the match goes to penalties. What drama! But there was more to come… Van Dijk’s penalty was saved by Martinez. Messi scored coolly down the centre. Martinez saved a second! Paredes scores Argentina’s second. Koopmeiners converts for the Dutch. Montiel scores for Argentina. Weghorst scores to keep the Dutch in it. Fernandez missed! De Jong scores. For the last one, if Martinez scores, Argentina gies through … and he does. Argentina go through 4-3 on penalties. Unsightly scenes on the pitch afterwards, with the referee brandishing yet more yellow cards.
Croatia play Argentina in the first semi-final on Tuesday 13 December.
Today, the other two semi-finals see Portugal up against Morocco, followed by England against France
