Qatar World Cup 2022: Can Samba Brazil continue to ‘dance’ in front of Croatia tonight!?

by Rosli Mansor

“We want to win it, it’s obvious but we have to go through it in stages. There are three more games but we have to be ready. Our thoughts need to focus on winning the title” said Neymar referring to news excerpts from Merto’s daily news report yesterday.

Neymar, the world’s most expensive sensational star, will certainly be the focus of every match, especially the quarter-final match against Croatia on 9 December 2022 at 11.00pm Malaysia time.

A big 4-1 victory over South Korea through goals from Vinicius Junior, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta and Neymar’s penalty added confidence for the ‘samba’ team to reach the next level.

Neymar returned to the starting line-up in the last 16 after picking up an ankle injury in the 2-0 win over Serbia while the return of Danilo at left-back also made an impact.

Meanwhile, through a source yesterday, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic described the meeting against five-time champions Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, should be the final action, but insisted his coaching squad is ready to score its first victory over the chosen team.

“A great opponent and a great challenge for us. We have played 11 games in two editions of the World Cup and lost only once. I expected this game to be later (in the final), but this is the nature of life.

“I believe this match will be the most challenging match,” he said.

Croatia reached the final four years ago and needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Japan in the last 16 on Monday.