Brazil vs Croatia live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 quarterfinal match

Brazil are the favorites to win the World Cup and they showed why in their Round-of-16 dismantling of South Korea. But a wily Croatia side that advanced to the 2018 final promises to make life difficult for the Selecao in their Friday quarterfinal showdown.

The Brazilian attack was clicking again with Neymar’s return to the lineup in the 4-1 win last time out. The Paris Saint-Germain star was back after an ankle injury to orchestrate another dazzling display with Brazil scoring all their goals by halftime.

It promises to be a different story against Croatia, who will believe they can contain Brazil in a similar fashion to fellow European sides Switzerland and Serbia, though they both still suffered narrow losses in the group stage.

The conventional thinking around Croatia entering the tournament was that the core of the team is four years older and therefore a step slower. But they held up fine over 120 minutes against Japan in the previous round, advancing on penalties despite fielding the oldest starting lineup in a World Cup knockout match since 2006. They will relish proving the sceptics wrong again, just like they did in 2018.

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Brazil vs Croatia at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the quarterfinal match in Qatar.

MORE: Best bets | Match referee | Brazil-Croatia history

Brazil vs Croatia live score

Goals:
None

Projected lineups:

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 14. Eder Militao, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Silva, 2. Danilo — 5. Casemiro, 7. Paqueta — 11. Raphinha, 10. Neymar, 20. Vinicius Jr — 9. Richarlison

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 9. Kramaric, 14. Livaja, 4. Perisic. 

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Brazil vs Croatia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

5 hrs from kickoff: If you’ve watched enough World Cup games, you’re probably good at distinguishing the stadiums by now. But you probably didn’t get this kind of tour of Education City.

Education City Stadium looks ready to host 🇭🇷 vs 🇧🇷

🏟️ Come, take a tour!#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/BGVSzn1PkO

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 9, 2022

5 hrs from kickoff: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has said that he wants to replicate the compact defending Switzerland executed against Brazil despite the fact that the Swiss ultimately lost that match 1-0.

“Brazil are the fastest and best team at this World Cup. We must not leave them too much space,” Dalic told media in the lead-up. “If we play wide we’ll have great problems. But on the other hand we know that when they lose the ball they have high pressing and if they do not take control of the ball in the next couple of seconds they have problems, so we’ll try to take that into account. Our concentration must not fail us.”

The theme from Croatia camp is clear. Brazil are better, but…

Longtime Croatia captain Luka Modrić is fully aware that Brazil is the favorite and that’s just fine with him! 😤🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/K60kfhXlPz

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić today 🎙🇭🇷

“Brazil is the strongest & best team in the tournament. When you look at the players, the breadth and quality, it’s scary. Brazil are favorites, they have confidence, a great atmosphere, top players. But I believe we can stand up to them.” pic.twitter.com/buwYb392k9

— AllThingsSeleção ™ (@SelecaoTalk) December 7, 2022

Brazil vs Croatia lineups, team news

Although he did make it through training with the team, Brazil left-back Alex Sandro (hip) is expected to sit out a third straight match with right-back Danilo moving over to take his spot and Eder Militao operating again at right-back. Gabriel Jesus (right knee) and Alex Telles (right knee) are the only other injury absences for Brazil.

Eder Militao is one of three Brazil players on yellow card warning together with Bruno Guimaraes and Fred. One more yellow card in this game and they’d sit out a potential final. 

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 14. Eder Militao, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Silva, 2. Danilo — 5. Casemiro, 7. Paqueta — 11. Raphinha, 10. Neymar, 20. Vinicius Jr — 9. Richarlison

MORE: Even Brazil’s coach Tite was dancing after goals vs. South Korea

Reports are that Borna Sosa has recovered from the illness that kept him out against Japan, and he will take over from Rangers’ Borna Barisic at left-back. But creative Dinamo Zagreb attacker Mislav Orsic has reportedly caught the bug and sat out the last training session. He’s expected to be available off the bench.

The only question for Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is in the attack, and specifically who starts alongside left-winger Ivan Perisic and right-winger Andrej Kramaric: The center-forward spot is down to Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), or Ante Budimir (Osasuna).

Josip Stanisic (muscle) missed the last match, but is available again, while Marcelo Brozovic was also back in training after getting an extra day of rest. The Modric-Brozovic-Kovacic trident in central midfield is untouchable, but Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are one yellow card away from suspension, as is center-back Dejan Lovren.

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 9. Kramaric, 14. Livaja, 4. Perisic. 

MORE: Why is Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol wearing a mask?

Brazil vs Croatia live stream, TV channel

This quarterfinal match between Croatia and Brazil will be played at the Education City Stadium.

Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.