Brazil face Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Friday. It is the first time they have met since a Selecao XI led by Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus beat Vatreni 2-0.
But Tite will not have the player who wore Brazil’s captain’s armband in a friendly in June 2018. The £45m former Manchester City forward has undergone surgery on a knee injury. It will sideline Jesus for the remainder of the World Cup and, possibly, up to three months.
Jesus had only played a bit-part role in Tite’s plans in Qatar so far with 92 minutes through three appearances. He was also yet to score or provide any assists as the South Americans made the final eight. But the 25-year-old is key for Arsenal since he joined in the summer.
Jesus led the last Brazil XI to start and beat Croatia ahead of the 2018 World Cup
Brazil and Croatia have only met four times to date ahead of clashing in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. It was ahead of the last edition of FIFA’s quadrennial tournament that the two nations last met, too. They played a friendly at Anfield ahead of Russia 2018.
Croatia went on to reach the final in Russia before losing to France, while Brazil departed in the quarter-finals to Belgium. The Selecao have only made it past the final eight at any World Cup once since winning their record fifth crown in 2002, doing so at home in 2014.
Tite will now hope to add 2022 to Brazil’s quarter-final triumph in 2014 and maintain the Selecao’s unbeaten record against Croatia. Across the two nations’ previous four fixtures, the South Americans have won three. Vatreni and the Selecao drew a friendly 1-1 in 2005.
The 1-1 stalemate at Stadion Poljud in Split, Croatia also marked the first time that the two nations ever met. They have since met one another at two World Cups before Qatar 2022. Brazil won a Group F tie 1-0 during Germany 2006 and beat Croatia 3-1 in Group A in 2014.
Jesus, then with Manchester City and now with Arsenal, started in the last Brazil XI to beat Croatia in 2018. But the on-the-day captain did not score before he made way for Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool forward would net Brazil’s second goal after Neymar found the net.
Neymar was also a substitute after entering the action on Merseyside at half-time. So, who did Tite start the last time a Brazil XI beat Croatia ahead of their 2022 World Cup meeting?
Alisson Becker (GK): He started the last Brazil XI to beat Croatia, and the next?
Alisson Becker started between the posts in the last Brazil XI to beat 2022 World Cup rivals Croatia in 2018. Now, the Liverpool stopper can chase another clean sheet against Vatreni in Qatar. The 60-cap star is Tite’s No.1 at the FIFA tournament, like he was for Russia 2018.
Danilo (RB): Brazil have the defender back in time to start against Croatia
Danilo kicked off the 2022 World Cup as Tite’s first-choice option at right-back. But like in 2018 when he suffered an ankle ligament injury, he missed Group G ties with Switzerland and Cameroon with an ankle injury. Yet Tite welcomed the 31-year-old back in the last 16.
Thiago Silva (CB): A first title could follow at the defender’s fourth World Cup
Thiago Silva made his Brazil debut back in October 2008. But 14 years and 112 caps later, he is still a starting option at a World Cup ahead of facing Croatia. Qatar 2022 is also the 38-year-old’s fourth FIFA tournament. Although he did not feature at South Africa 2010.
Joao Miranda (CB): Croatia warmed the Sao Paulo star up for Russia 2018
Joao Miranda amassed 58 caps between April 2009 and September 2021 but only featured at one World Cup. Croatia also served as the warm-up act for his Russia 2018 exploits after playing five games. Tite also captained the now-Sao Paulo ace in their quarter-final defeat.
Marcelo (LB): The Olympiacos star has not featured for Brazil since 2018
Marcelo joined Olympiacos over the summer after leaving Real Madrid following 15 years, five Champions League titles and six La Ligas. But the 34-year-old made the last of his 58 caps during the quarter-final of the 2018 World Cup as Brazil lost 2-1 to Belgium in Kazan.
Casemiro (CDM): The Man Utd man scored his first World Cup goal in 2022
Casemiro has scored his first goal at a World Cup during Qatar 2022 with the only effort in Brazil’s 1-0 win over Switzerland. The goal is just one of six the 68-cap Manchester United midfielder has scored for the Selecao. The 30-year-old has also laid on three assists so far.
Fernandinho (CM): A nine-year Brazil career ended with Copa America glory
Fernandinho bowed out of international football in July 2019 after helping Brazil win the Copa America. He did not feature in the final with Peru but amassed the final two of his 53 caps in the earlier rounds. The 37-year-old is now playing in Brazil at Athletico Paranaense.
Paulinho (CM): Russia 2018 marked the end of the Corinthians star’s Brazil career
Russia 2018 effectively marked the end of Paulinho’s run as a Brazil player. The Corinthians midfielder started each of the Selecao’s five fixtures and scored once to help beat Serbia in Group E. But the 34-year-old made his last of 56 caps in his next game in November 2018.
Willian (RW): Tite has turned away from the Fulham forward since 2019
Tite has turned away from naming Willian in his teams since November 2019 when the 34-year-old made his 70th cap. The Fulham forward only provided nine goals and 15 assists in his Selecao outings. He also failed to score and provided an assist in 10 World Cup games.
Gabriel Jesus (ST): Tite captained the Arsenal ace in Brazil’s last XI to beat Croatia
Jesus has enjoyed his entire Brazil career under Tite and started as their captain in the last Selecao XI to beat Croatia in 2018. The 59-cap forward – who Brazil great Ronaldo Nazario calls ‘very special’ – has also provided 19 goals and 13 assists over his appearances so far.
Philippe Coutinho (LW): His Aston Villa form saw Tite opt against a 2022 call-up
Philippe Coutinho forced his way back into the Brazil side this year after failing to feature since October 2020. But Tite chose against taking the 30-year-old to Qatar after he failed to score or assist a single goal in 13 games since joining Aston Villa from Barcelona in May.
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