Croatia face Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup on Friday. So, HITC Football looks back at who started with Ivan Perisic against Russia in Vatreni’s last-eight XI in 2018.
Zlatko Dalic is bidding to guide Croatia to successive World Cup finals in Qatar after falling just short in Russia. Vatreni lost 4-2 to France in the final after eliminating England, Russia and Denmark. They went to penalties with Denmark and Russia in the last 16 and quarters.
Croatia have, again, required penalties to reach the quarter-finals at a World Cup at Qatar 2022. They overcame Japan 3-1 in the Round of 16 on Monday following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Dominik Livakovic denied Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida.
Dalic has rung the changes since Croatia’s last World Cup quarter-final XI in 2018
Of the XI Dalic used against Japan, only four also started Croatia’s 2018 World Cup quarter-final with Russia. Perisic is one of their four survivors from the Sochi showdown four years ago. But like against the 2018 host nation, Dalic took the winger off before their shootout.
Dalic relied on Marcelo Brozovic to come on in Perisic’s place in 2018 and later tasked the 30-year-old with taking their first penalty. The midfielder would score from the spot, too. But the same could not be said for fellow substitute Mateo Kovacic with Croatia’s second strike.
Igor Akinfeev saved Kovacic’s strike but Mario Fernandes saved the midfielder’s blushes as he missed with Russia’s next kick. Luka Modric, Domagoj Vida and Ivan Rakitic would then convert for Croatia, making Sergey Ignashevich and Daler Kuzyaev scoring theirs irrelevant.
Vida had also scored during open play before Croatia’s 2018 World Cup quarter-final went to a penalty shootout. The centre-back headed home Modric’s corner in the 101st minute but Fernandes later equalised. The full-back’s 115th-mute header drew Russia level at 2-2.
Russia had earlier broken the deadlock, as well, when Denis Cheryshev slotted home from Artem Dzyuba’s pass on 31 minutes. Yet Sbornaya only led for eight minutes before Mario Mandzukic crossed in for Andrej Kramaric to head home his first goal of the tournament.
So, with Croatia now preparing to face record five-time World Cup champions Brazil in the 2022 quarter-finals, HITC Football looks at the XI that Dalic started against Russia in 2018…
Danijel Subasic (GK): Dalic last started his World Cup quarter-final hero in 2018
Danijel Subasic was Croatia’s No.1 at the 2018 World Cup and started against Russia in the quarter-final. He also saved Fedor Smolov’s penalty for Sbornaya’s first shot. But Dalic has not called on the 38-year-old Hajduk Split stopper since Vatreni lost to France in the final.
Sime Vrsaljko (RB): The England tie eclipsed Croatia’s last World Cup quarter-final
Sime Vrsaljko started in six of Croatia’s seven fixtures at the last World Cup, including their quarter-final with Russia. But the defender eclipsed the final-eight affair against England in the semi-finals when his cross to Perisic drew Vatreni level after Kieran Trippier’s free-kick.
Dejan Lovren (CB): Croatia continue to start the star of their last quarter-final
Dejan Lovren may now be 33 but he has played every minute of Croatia’s 2022 World Cup campaign so far. The defender also assisted Perisic to take their Round of 16 tie with Japan to penalties. He did not score or assist over seven games in 2018 over playing 650 minutes.
Domagoj Vida (CB): It is 100 not out for the defender but a lesser role in 2022
Vida celebrated his 100th cap in Croatia’s friendly with Saudi Arabia before the 2022 World Cup. But he is yet to play in Qatar after spending three matches as an unused substitute so far. The 33-year-old started six of Vatreni’s Russia 2018 ties after sitting out a group game.
Ivan Strinic (LB): Dalic overlooked the defender after the 2018 World Cup
Ivan Strinic made his Croatia debut in May 2010 under Slaven Bilic and went on to enjoy 49 caps. But the 35-year-old did not feature for his national team again after the 2018 World Cup final. Even though the left-back only called time on his playing career in January 2021.
Luka Modric (CM): The Croatia captain won the Golden Ball at the last World Cup
Modric was the conductor and heartbeat of Croatia’s XI which reached the final for the last World Cup in 2018. His efforts in the engine room would return the Golden Ball alongside a silver medal. Now, at 37 years old, Modric is taking to the FIFA stage for the final time.
Ivan Rakitic (CM): The Sevilla star retired from Croatia duty in September 2020
Rakitic was the hero in Sochi after scoring Croatia’s final penalty to beat Russia at the 2018 World Cup. The 34-year-old also enjoyed 15 goals from open play across 106 caps after his bow in 2007. But the Sevilla star retired from Vatreni duty in 2020 a year after his final cap.
Andrej Kramaric (CAM): Dalic hooked the attacker only for Kovacic to miss
Dalic had used Kramaric in Croatia’s quarter-final XI against Russia at the last World Cup in 2018. But the Vatreni coach took the attacker off for Kovacic after 88 minutes. Yet it would not be a fruitful decision with the £40m would-be Chelsea ace going on to miss his penalty.
Ante Rebic (RW): The AC Milan ace has not featured for Vatreni since Euro 2020
AC Milan ace Ante Rebic has now not featured for Vatreni since Euro 2020. Croatia bowed out of the last European Championship to Spain in the Round of 16 in a 5-3 defeat in extra time. Rebic started three of their four ties, while opening six of their seven at Russia 2018.
Mario Mandzukic (ST): Dalic has taken the Croatia hero to Qatar 2022 as a coach
Mandzukic scored 33 goals over 89 caps for Croatia from November 2007 to July 2018. The striker hit his final goal and earned his final appearance in the 2018 World Cup final against France. Now, he is at Qatar 2022 after becoming one of Dalic’s assistant managers in 2021.
Ivan Perisic (LW): Dalic hooked the forward for Brozovic early in the second half
Dalic hooked Perisic just 63 minutes into Croatia’s 2018 World Cup quarter-final clash with Russia for Brozovic. The forward would respond to the decision by scoring and assisting in the semi-final against England. He also found the net in the final but France still won 4-2.
Now, Perisic is at his second World Cup under Dalic and first as a Tottenham player. He has also played a vital role with two assists against Canada in Group F and a goal in the Round of 16 against Japan. His second-half header drew the tie level before it went to penalties.
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