Brazil is the most picked team to win the FIFA World Cup 2022. They are the most successful team in this competition but their last win was in 2002. Croatia was a finalist in the last edition of the World Cup and would be looking to grab an upset win in the quarterfinals.
Croatia secured qualification on the final day at the expense of Belgium. They eliminated Japan on penalties in the round of 16 despite conceding an early goal. Croatia’s conservative style of play has been effective so far, and it is interesting to see if it works against Brazil.
Brazil extended their dominance in this competition, thrashing South Korea in the last 16 after finishing top of Group G. There is great harmony in the Brazilian team, and they look set for another dominant win en route to the semi-finals, according to the best sites for football betting.
| Tournament: | FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 Playoffs, Quarterfinal 2 |
| Venue: | Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar |
| Date: | 10:00.a.m. EST on Friday, 9 December 2022 |
Croatia has a huge task on their hands in this tie, and the odds suggest that. A win for Croatia is worth 8.50 (15/2), while the Brazilians are the favorites at 1.44 (4/9). The bookmakers have set the odds for a draw at 4.50 (7/2).
There have already been two penalty shootouts in the knockout stages so far, and the odds for Brazil to qualify are set at 1.20 (1/5). A bet on Croatia reaching the semi-finals is worth 5.50 (9/2).
Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming25+ sportsSuperb bonusesEasy to useVIP programLive gamesMany bonusesMany bonuses24/7 supportMobile appsLive bettingMany sportsFast payoutsCroatia is yet to lose a game in this tournament, finishing second in the group stage to reach the knockouts. They survived a scare in the round of 16 against Japan. Zlatko Dalic’s team conceded early in the game but were back on level terms through an equalizer from Ivan Perisic. Croatia got the better of Japan in the resulting penalty shootouts to qualify for the semi-finals. Despite picking up just one win in this tournament, Croatia has done enough to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for a second consecutive time.
Brazil consolidated their stance as favorites in this tournament with a big win over South Korea in the last 16. They arrived in Qatar as the top team in the FIFA World rankings. The Selecao has ten wins from their last 12 games in all competitions this year, sharing points on one occasion and losing just once. Brazil’s only loss came when they rotated their first team players against Cameroon — a loss that had very little impact as they had secured qualification.
Brazil has a perfect record in all three meetings against Croatia. Two of those games were in the FIFA World Cup, while the other was a friendly fixture.
Croatia: DDWDW
Brazil: WLWWW
In all fairness to Croatia, this game is expected to be a one-sided tie. Brazil has been convincing throughout the tournament with very comfortable wins. Only Switzerland provided stiff competition for the Selecao, and Brazil found a way, in the end, to break down a compact defense. Brazil has numerous attacking options, and this gives them the edge as the game progresses. Brazil has three wins from four games and has scored seven goals in total. This should be a routine win for the Brazilians.
Croatia hasn’t been well tested in this tournament and struggled to get past Japan in the previous round. They have won just one game in four games, and that win came against an inexperienced Canadian national team. Croatia also has a very poor record against Brazil. They have lost all meetings against the Selecao, including a 3-1 defeat in the 2014 World Cup. A bet on Brazil to win in normal time is one of the safest bets on the WC 2022 quarterfinal.
Brazil’s defense has been a key part of its success in recent years. They have one of the best center-back pairings in the World Cup alongside an impressive Alison Becker in the net. Croatia has been average in attack, drawing a blank against Belgium and Morocco. Brazil is expected to outscore Croatia alongside a clean sheet. Croatia would try to keep things close in this game, and a scoreline of 2-0 in favor of Brazil is worth the bet.
Neymar returned to the Brazil starting lineup after missing two games through an ankle injury. He grabbed a goal and an assist on his return and is one goal away from equaling Pele’s record as the all-time goalscorer for the Selecao. The PSG forward is one of the best players in the world and a great attacking outlet for Brazil. Betting on Neymar to score or assist anytime is available on the betting sites.
Borna Sosa and Josep Stanisic are doubtful for this clash against Brazil.
Alex Telles and Alex Sandro are expected to miss this game, while Gabriel Jesus left the Brazilian team following a knee injury.
The battle for glory in Qatar is down to eight teams. There are interesting offers for punters in this game, and you can get the best bet options by using our football betting tips and predictions.
