"Nostalgia for the past" flirts with Croatia and Brazil, and stands before the aspirations of the best participation in the history of Asia
Brazil, looking for a record sixth title and first since 2002, wants to join the heavyweights in the quarter-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup in football, when modest South Korea meets on Monday, while nostalgia tickles Croatia when it faces Japan in its endeavor to repeat the achievement of reaching the final of the last version. .
The final price confrontations have so far resulted in two fiery positions in the quarter-finals between Argentina, the 1978 and 1986 champions, the runner-up Netherlands three times, France, the defending champion with England, the 1966 champion, while Germany, the four-time world champion, and Belgium, a third 2018, were bid farewell early in the first round.
Brazil seems to be a candidate among the arsenal of stars that it includes, and its great interest in a tournament that it is the only one that it has not missed in 22 editions.
However, this arsenal suffered a major breach, with its star Neymar spraining his ankle in the first match against Serbia, so he missed the two matches against Switzerland (1-0) and the first loss against an African team against Cameroon (0-1).
“Silição” coach Tite, who played against Cameroon with a backup squad after officially guaranteeing qualification since the second round, hinted Sunday that Neymar could participate. “He will train this afternoon and if everything is fine, he will play tomorrow.”
A jinx accompanies the French star Paris Saint-Germain in major tournaments: a back injury in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals, another in his foot that forced him to play Russia 2018 without full physical fitness, and an absence from the 2019 Copa America when his country won the title.
A comeback Korea coach, Portugal's Paulo Bento, was frank about when he said, "We would be hypocrites if we said we would prefer to play with Neymar. It would be a lie. We would prefer him not to play."
- A big difference - The differences between the two teams seem great, as Brazil won 6 out of seven confrontations, the last of which was 5-1 in a friendly last June, but it is the first time in an official tournament that will be the last at Stadium 974, which will be completely dismantled after the finals, according to data from the Qatari organizers.
The Koreans, led by Heung-Min Son, who was injured in his face, returned from afar thanks to a recent victory over Portugal 2-1, knowing that the "Taegeuk Warriors" site ranges between the group stage and rarely in the final price, with the exception of their achievement in 2002 at home when they reached the semi-finals.
"We have the chance to beat Brazil and we will prepare in the best possible way to face it," said Son, the Tottenham striker, who broke down in tears after qualifying.
And after the 2022 edition became the best for Asian teams in terms of qualifying for the second round, with the arrival of South Korea and Australia, who lost to Argentina 1-2, Japan holds acceptable chances against Croatia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, given their results in the first round.
It achieved a resounding first surprise against Germany (2-1), which eliminated “De Manschaft” for the second time in a row from the finals, then fell to modest Costa Rica, before defeating strong but sluggish Spain (2-1), perhaps due to a desire denied by the “La Roja” players. By playing on the side of Brazil and Argentina in the quarter and semi-finals.
The "Blue Samurai" has the goal of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in its history, with professional players abroad, especially in the German League.
Its coach, Hajime Moriyasu, said, "The principle is that we as a team have to defend well and from there we go to attack. This is how we got here and this has not changed during our three matches."
As for Croatia, which is somewhat aging with the advancing age of its players, especially its absolute star Luka Modric (37 years), it overcame a difficult group that Morocco deservedly topped, leaving the country separated from the former Yugoslavia fighting for second place with Belgium.
The Croatian national team, which achieved a resounding surprise in 2018 when it reached the final for the first time in its history and lost to France, has one of the best defenses in the tournament led by young Joshko Gvardiol.
And after he hinted at his participation in the last World Cup, the 2022 trip will not be the end of Modric's career, according to what his coach Zlatko Dalic said on Sunday.
The national team does not intend to "allow" the departure of the Real Madrid star, who played 159 international matches, according to Dalic, saying, "It will not be the last tournament in which he plays for Croatia. He is professional and in good physical condition. You can see how he trains, how he works to improve himself." .
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