Brazil will make an effort to maintain their chances of winning a record-extending sixth world championship when they square off with Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals on Friday at Education City Stadium.

While the Checkered Ones were pushed all the way by Japan before advancing on penalties, the Selecao sent a message to the remainder of the competition when they easily defeated South Korea in the round of 16.

After defeating Japan 3-1 on penalties in the last 16 on Monday, Croatia will play on the largest international stage in the quarterfinals for the second time in a row and for the third time in their history.

Since placing third at their first World Cup finals back in 1998, Croatia has been involved in seven of their past eight knockout games at major championships, so they are no strangers to drama at the top level of international football.

Croatia’s last five World Cup knockout games have gone to extra time in four of those games, and three of those victories have come on penalties. Only Croatia’s 4-2 loss to France in 2018 was decided after 90 minutes during this stretch.

Since Euro 2020, Dalic and company have lost only one of their previous 20 games across all competitions and are unbeaten in their past 10 international matches.

Tite’s team sambaed their way into the quarterfinals on Monday thanks to a 4-1 victory against South Korea in the last 16. The Brazilian flare and swagger that football fans across the world are used to seeing while watching the five-time world champions were on display.

Brazil is currently brimming with confidence and gearing up for their eighth consecutive World Cup quarterfinal, but they will be cautious given their recent history at this stage of the campaign. In three of the previous four World Cups, the Selecao was eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing to the European trio of France, Netherlands, and Belgium in 2006, 2010, and 2018, respectively.

Brazil has dropped each of their last five elimination games against European teams since defeating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final. The Selecao has faced Croatia four times but has never lost.

Additionally, their 1-0 group-stage setback to Cameroon last week was their only loss in their previous 19 matches, which is encouraging going into Friday’s match.

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