CROATIA V BRAZIL – what the stats say

Brazil have never lost in four previous meetings with Croatia in all competitions (W3 D1), with this their first meeting since a 2-0 friendly win in June 2018.

Croatia have lost four of their five World Cup games against South American sides, with the exception being a 3-0 win over Argentina in 2018. Two of those four defeats have been against Brazil – 1-0 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2014 (both group stages).

Since beating Germany 2-0 in the final in 2002, Brazil have lost each of their last five World Cup knockout stage games against European nations, including three quarterfinal ties in that run (France in 2006, Netherlands in 2010 and Belgium in 2018).

In a run going back to EURO 2008, seven of Croatia's last eight knockout stage games at major tournaments (World Cup and Euro) have gone to extra time, with the exception being the 2018 World Cup final. They've progressed from all four such games at the World Cup, three via penalty shootout.

Brazil are looking to reach the World Cup semifinal for the ninth time, with only Germany (12) doing so more often. Meanwhile, Croatia have reached at least the last four of the competition on both previous occasions they've made it out of the group stages (1998 and 2018).

Croatia have conceded the first goal in six of their last eight World Cup matches, with the two exceptions both finishing 0-0 (against Morocco and Belgium this year). However, they’ve only gone on to lose one of those matches – 4-2 against France in the 2018 final.

Richarlison has scored 10 goals in his nine appearances for Brazil so far in 2022, netting at least four goals more than any other player for the country this calendar year. He could become the eighth different Brazilian player to score at least four goals in his maiden World Cup campaign, and first since Neymar in 2014 (4).

In their round of 16 match against Japan, Ivan Perisic became the first player to score 10 goals in major tournaments for Croatia (6 World Cup, 4 European Championship). At the World Cup alone, he's been involved in 10 goals in his last 13 appearances (6 goals, 4 assists).

Neymar has been involved in 15 goals in his last 11 appearances for Brazil in all competitions (8 goals, 7 assists), with each of his last six goals for the national side coming from the penalty spot. Last time out against Korea Republic, he became the first Brazilian on record (since 1966) to both score and provide an assist at three different World Cup tournaments.

No player has had more shots (8) or created more chances (8) for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup than Raphinha, though he's yet to score or assist a goal at the tournament so far.

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