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Matchday 18 Live Blog: Argentina and Croatia advance to semis
Join us for Matchday 18 as we bring you the key moments and highlights from today's FIFA World Cup fixtures.
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By SBS Sport
Source: SBS
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Neymar scores
105+1' - Neymar breaks the deadlock!
FINALLY! A neat one-two through Croatia's defence sees Neymar round Dominik Livakovic and guide the ball home to give Brazil a deserved lead.
FINALLY! A neat one-two through Croatia's defence sees Neymar round Dominik Livakovic and guide the ball home to give Brazil a deserved lead.
First period of extra-time under way
91' - Brazil begin first period
The five-time champions are looking to break the deadlock against a side accustomed to 120 minutes of knockout football.
The five-time champions are looking to break the deadlock against a side accustomed to 120 minutes of knockout football.
Full-time - Extra-time to come
FT - We're heading to extra-time!
Brazil and Croatia cannot be separated after 90 minutes, meaning extra-time and potentially penalties will decide the victor.
The Selecao knocked on the door but could not find a way through this one!
Brazil and Croatia cannot be separated after 90 minutes, meaning extra-time and potentially penalties will decide the victor.
The Selecao knocked on the door but could not find a way through this one!
No penalty
49' - VAR denies Brazil
A quick check from the Video Assistant Referee determines there was no handball in the box against Croatia.
A quick check from the Video Assistant Referee determines there was no handball in the box against Croatia.
Second half starts
46' - Brazil begin second half
The South American giants restart proceedings looking to improve on their first-half display.
The South American giants restart proceedings looking to improve on their first-half display.
Half-time whistle blows
HT - The referee calls an end to the first half
The players head for the tunnel after a tight 45 minutes that Croatia will feel much better about. They've pressed Brazil into mistakes and found space in behind in transition as a result.
The players head for the tunnel after a tight 45 minutes that Croatia will feel much better about. They've pressed Brazil into mistakes and found space in behind in transition as a result.
First half under way
1' - Kick-off
We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.
We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.
Brazil Stats
· Brazil can become the first team ranked number one in the FIFA world rankings to progress to the World Cup semi-finals since Brazil themselves in 1998.
· Brazil have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for a joint-record 14th time (also 14 by (West) Germany). The Seleção are the only team to reach this stage at each of the last eight tournaments (1994-2022).
· Brazil lost three of their last four World Cup quarter-finals, after they were eliminated from only two of their first nine World Cup quarter-finals. Only England (6) have been eliminated from more World Cup quarter-finals than the Seleção (5).
· Brazil have not won a World Cup quarter-final on foreign soil since a 2-1 victory against England in Shizuoka in 2002. Their only triumph at this stage since was when they hosted the tournament in 2014 (2-1 versus Colombia in Fortaleza).
· Brazil were beaten 2-1 by Belgium in Kazan in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup. Only three of the Brazilians to play that day are in contention for this match: Alisson, Thiago Silva and Neymar (Gabriel Jesus also featured in that game but misses the rest of this tournament because of injury).
· Each of Brazil's last seven World Cup quarter-finals were decided by a single-goal margin (four wins, three defeats).
· Brazil scored more goals in the round of last 16 versus Korea Republic (4) than they did in the entire group stage of this tournament (3)
· Brazil won three of their four World Cup penalty shootouts. Their only defeat was against France in the 1986 quarter-finals.
· Neymar (76) is one short of moving level alongside Pelé (77) as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer. Neymar has made 123 international appearances (Pelé played 92 games for the national team).
· Neymar (7, level alongside Careca) is one short of moving joint-fifth alongside Leônidas, Ademir and Rivaldo (all 8) in Brazil's leading World Cup goalscorers.
· Each of Neymar's last six goals for Brazil were penalties. His most recent non-penalty international goal was against Uruguay in October 2021.
· Richarlison has scored 10 goals in his last nine Brazil appearances. The Seleção have won all 16 games he has netted in.
· All 26 members of Brazil's squad have had playing time at the 2022 World Cup. They were the first team to use more than 24 players at a single World Cup.
· Marquinhos, Raphinha and Rodrygo are the only players to have played in all four of Brazil's games at the 2022 World Cup.
· Bruno Guimarães, Éder Militão and Fred are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Brazil have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for a joint-record 14th time (also 14 by (West) Germany). The Seleção are the only team to reach this stage at each of the last eight tournaments (1994-2022).
· Brazil lost three of their last four World Cup quarter-finals, after they were eliminated from only two of their first nine World Cup quarter-finals. Only England (6) have been eliminated from more World Cup quarter-finals than the Seleção (5).
· Brazil have not won a World Cup quarter-final on foreign soil since a 2-1 victory against England in Shizuoka in 2002. Their only triumph at this stage since was when they hosted the tournament in 2014 (2-1 versus Colombia in Fortaleza).
· Brazil were beaten 2-1 by Belgium in Kazan in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup. Only three of the Brazilians to play that day are in contention for this match: Alisson, Thiago Silva and Neymar (Gabriel Jesus also featured in that game but misses the rest of this tournament because of injury).
· Each of Brazil's last seven World Cup quarter-finals were decided by a single-goal margin (four wins, three defeats).
· Brazil scored more goals in the round of last 16 versus Korea Republic (4) than they did in the entire group stage of this tournament (3)
· Brazil won three of their four World Cup penalty shootouts. Their only defeat was against France in the 1986 quarter-finals.
· Neymar (76) is one short of moving level alongside Pelé (77) as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer. Neymar has made 123 international appearances (Pelé played 92 games for the national team).
· Neymar (7, level alongside Careca) is one short of moving joint-fifth alongside Leônidas, Ademir and Rivaldo (all 8) in Brazil's leading World Cup goalscorers.
· Each of Neymar's last six goals for Brazil were penalties. His most recent non-penalty international goal was against Uruguay in October 2021.
· Richarlison has scored 10 goals in his last nine Brazil appearances. The Seleção have won all 16 games he has netted in.
· All 26 members of Brazil's squad have had playing time at the 2022 World Cup. They were the first team to use more than 24 players at a single World Cup.
· Marquinhos, Raphinha and Rodrygo are the only players to have played in all four of Brazil's games at the 2022 World Cup.
· Bruno Guimarães, Éder Militão and Fred are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Croatia Stats
· This is Croatia's 50th major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) match. Their major tournament debut was a 1-0 win versus Türkiye in Nottingham in the EURO 1996 group stage (goal by Goran Vlaovic).
· Croatia and France are both in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Not since 1990 have both finalists from the previous tournament progressed to the semi-finals, when Argentina and West Germany competed in successive finals in 1986 and 1990.
· Croatia progressed from both of their two World Cup quarter-finals: a 3-0 win against Germany in Lyon in 1998 and a penalty shootout victory versus Russia in Sochi in 2018. The only other teams to compete in multiple World Cup quarter-finals without ever being eliminated at that stage are Austria (1934, 1954) and Portugal (1966, 2006).
· Of Croatia's last eight major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) knockout phase matches, seven went to extra time. The only exception in that run was a 4-2 defeat versus France in Moscow in the 2018 World Cup final.
· Croatia have won all three of their World Cup penalty shootouts. Only (West) Germany (4) have been involved in as many World Cup penalty shootouts and still have a 100% winning record.
· Croatia did not score the opening goal in any of their last eight World Cup games (conceded the opening goal six times and drew 0-0 twice).
· Croatia failed to net in only one of their 13 major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) knockout phase matches, a 1-0 defeat after extra time versus Portugal in Lens in the EURO 2016 round of last 16.
· Croatia lost only one of their last 20 matches (W12-D7-L1, game decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June.
· Ivan Perišic is joint-second alongside Mario Mandzukic (both 33) in Croatia's all-time leading goalscorers, behind only Davor Šuker (45).
· In the round of last 16 against Japan, Perišic (10) surpassed Davor Šuker (9) as Croatia's leading major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) goalscorer. Perišic and Šuker (both 6) are Croatia's joint-leading World Cup goalscorers.
· Perišic can become the eighth player to score in as many as four consecutive World Cup knockout phase appearances, after Brazil's Leônidas (5, 1934-1938), Hungary's György Sárosi (5, 1934-1938), Brazil's Vavá (5, 1958-1962), Italy's Totò Schillaci (4, 1990), Italy's Roberto Baggio (4, 1990-1994), Netherlands' Dennis Bergkamp (4, 1994-1998) and Croatia's Davor Šuker (4, 1998).
· Borna Barišic, Dejan Lovren, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Croatia and France are both in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Not since 1990 have both finalists from the previous tournament progressed to the semi-finals, when Argentina and West Germany competed in successive finals in 1986 and 1990.
· Croatia progressed from both of their two World Cup quarter-finals: a 3-0 win against Germany in Lyon in 1998 and a penalty shootout victory versus Russia in Sochi in 2018. The only other teams to compete in multiple World Cup quarter-finals without ever being eliminated at that stage are Austria (1934, 1954) and Portugal (1966, 2006).
· Of Croatia's last eight major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) knockout phase matches, seven went to extra time. The only exception in that run was a 4-2 defeat versus France in Moscow in the 2018 World Cup final.
· Croatia have won all three of their World Cup penalty shootouts. Only (West) Germany (4) have been involved in as many World Cup penalty shootouts and still have a 100% winning record.
· Croatia did not score the opening goal in any of their last eight World Cup games (conceded the opening goal six times and drew 0-0 twice).
· Croatia failed to net in only one of their 13 major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) knockout phase matches, a 1-0 defeat after extra time versus Portugal in Lens in the EURO 2016 round of last 16.
· Croatia lost only one of their last 20 matches (W12-D7-L1, game decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June.
· Ivan Perišic is joint-second alongside Mario Mandzukic (both 33) in Croatia's all-time leading goalscorers, behind only Davor Šuker (45).
· In the round of last 16 against Japan, Perišic (10) surpassed Davor Šuker (9) as Croatia's leading major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) goalscorer. Perišic and Šuker (both 6) are Croatia's joint-leading World Cup goalscorers.
· Perišic can become the eighth player to score in as many as four consecutive World Cup knockout phase appearances, after Brazil's Leônidas (5, 1934-1938), Hungary's György Sárosi (5, 1934-1938), Brazil's Vavá (5, 1958-1962), Italy's Totò Schillaci (4, 1990), Italy's Roberto Baggio (4, 1990-1994), Netherlands' Dennis Bergkamp (4, 1994-1998) and Croatia's Davor Šuker (4, 1998).
· Borna Barišic, Dejan Lovren, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Head-to-Head: Croatia v Brazil
· Brazil are unbeaten in all four matches against Croatia (W3-D1-L0). Two of those four games were at the World Cup.
· The opening game of the 2014 World Cup was between Croatia and Brazil in São Paulo. The hosts won 3-1 courtesy of goals by Neymar (29', 71' penalty) and Oscar (90+1') after Marcelo (11' own goal) had given the Croatians the lead.
· Brazil defeated Croatia 1-0 in Berlin in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup. Kaká (44') scored the only goal to beat a Croatian team that had Luka Modric as an unused substitute.
· The most recent game between these nations was a friendly at Anfield in Liverpool on 3 June 2018. Brazil won 2-0 through goals by Neymar (69') and Roberto Firmino (90+3').
· Croatia and Brazil drew 1-1 in a friendly in Split on 17 August 2005. Ricardinho (42') equalised for the visitors after Niko Kranjcar (32') had put the hosts ahead.
· Croatia lost four of their five World Cup matches versus CONMEBOL opposition (W1-D0-L4, all group stage). The only exception was a 3-0 victory against Argentina in Nizhny Novgorod in 2018 (goals by Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic).
· Brazil lost each of their last five World Cup knockout phase matches against UEFA opposition (by an aggregate score of 15-3), since a 2-0 victory against Germany in Yokohama in the 2002 final.
· Club teammates who could be in opposition in this game are Mateo Kovacic and Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Luka Modric and Éder Militão/Vinícius Júnior/Rodrygo (Real Madrid), and Ivan Perišic and Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur).
Courtesy of Gracenote
· The opening game of the 2014 World Cup was between Croatia and Brazil in São Paulo. The hosts won 3-1 courtesy of goals by Neymar (29', 71' penalty) and Oscar (90+1') after Marcelo (11' own goal) had given the Croatians the lead.
· Brazil defeated Croatia 1-0 in Berlin in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup. Kaká (44') scored the only goal to beat a Croatian team that had Luka Modric as an unused substitute.
· The most recent game between these nations was a friendly at Anfield in Liverpool on 3 June 2018. Brazil won 2-0 through goals by Neymar (69') and Roberto Firmino (90+3').
· Croatia and Brazil drew 1-1 in a friendly in Split on 17 August 2005. Ricardinho (42') equalised for the visitors after Niko Kranjcar (32') had put the hosts ahead.
· Croatia lost four of their five World Cup matches versus CONMEBOL opposition (W1-D0-L4, all group stage). The only exception was a 3-0 victory against Argentina in Nizhny Novgorod in 2018 (goals by Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic).
· Brazil lost each of their last five World Cup knockout phase matches against UEFA opposition (by an aggregate score of 15-3), since a 2-0 victory against Germany in Yokohama in the 2002 final.
· Club teammates who could be in opposition in this game are Mateo Kovacic and Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Luka Modric and Éder Militão/Vinícius Júnior/Rodrygo (Real Madrid), and Ivan Perišic and Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur).
Courtesy of Gracenote
Watch Croatia v Brazil live on SBS or SBS On Demand!
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