Upstarts Russia play dark horse Croatia in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Here’s a look at five key matchups that could decide the result.
Who will advance to the semifinals: Russia or Croatia?
It’s a tough question to answer, especially given the upsets this World Cup has produced, and one that will become clearer on Saturday when the sides meet at Fisht Stadium in Sochi.
Both sides feature some of the best players we’ve seen at this tournament so far. While the Russians have done a great job defensively (they beat Spain in the round of 16), the Croatians (winners against Denmark to get here) are the ones with the more explosive offense.
Croatia are loaded with Serie A players, while Russia feature a mostly domestic-based roster. Which team emerges victorious will largely depend on individual stars who can make a difference in this game. While both teams got here after winning penalty shootouts in the round of 16, it could very well come down to a single player to decide who wins this matchup.
Here’s a look at five key matchups that could decide the result.
Vladimir Granat vs. Ivan Perisic
Expect lots of action on the flanks. Both Yuri Zhirkov and Ivan Perisic are quality players who can make things happen in that part of the field. If you never heard of them before the start of this World Cup, you certainly know them now for the way each has played in recent weeks.
Let’s start with Zhirkov. The defender won’t be around against Croatia due to injury (he left the Spain match at halftime and was later diagnosed with an inflamed tendon in his calf), meaning the hosts will need to field a other players to fill the gap such as veteran Vladimir Granat.
Perisic is a better-known quantity with loads of top-level experience at both the club and national team level. Nonetheless, this World Cup has been mostly about surprises. Perisic should have the better day here, but at this tournament you never know who can shine.
Aleksandr Golovin vs. Ivan Strinic
What else can you expect from a player with the word “gol” in his name? Kidding aside, Aleksandr Golovin hasn’t only been great for headline writers, he’s also been the midfield linchpin of this Russian team. His ability to attack, create space for his teammates and shoot from long range have all helped this team grow with each game at this tournament. In many ways, Russia’s offensive options rely on him.
The aim of Ivan Strinic will be to stop Golovin from scoring and making those headlines. The Croatia left-back is good on the ball and can strip opponents of it each time he gets close. This could very well be the best battle of them all in this game.
Artem Dzyuba vs. Marcelo Brozovic
Look for the duel between Artem Dzyuba and Marcelo Brozovic to also be a heated one. The midfield may be one of those areas where this game is either won or lost. Both players bring immense talent to the middle of the park.
Artem Dzyuba is a forward, but if Stanislav Cherchesov deploys his men in a more defensive-minded formation, as he did against Spain, he’ll spend a lot of time trying to disrupt Brozovic in holding midfield.
For the Russians it will be all about set pieces and getting Croatia on the counter. For Croatia, it will be all about chasing the ball and hoping that possession and prettier plays work better for them than they did for Spain in the round of 16.
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Russia’s defense vs. Luka Modric
With Luka Modric the creative force behind this Croatian team, look for the Russian backline and the defensive midfielders to give him a tough time all game. At times against Spain, Russia packed the defense with six players, forcing the 2010 World Cup champions to play horizontally. Spain failed to penetrate the Russian defense and could only muster shots from outside the penalty area.
Modric will need to have a better game than he did against Denmark if Croatia are going to get in behind the Russian defence. He needs to pass the ball more and create space for his teammates. A lot will depend on whether Croatia’s offense can play direct enough to put the Russian defense in a panic.
Zlatko Dalic’s side have scored at least two goals in each of their three group-stage games (including three past Argentina) to emerge as one of the tournament’s dark horses. Croatia will need to come out strong from the start or risk being frustrated by a Russian defense that has proven it can tangle with the best of them at this World Cup.
Igor Akinfeev vs. Danijel Subasic
It’s a battle between one penalty-stopper and another. Both Igor Akinfeev and Danijel Subasic did a magnificent job against Spain and Denmark, respectively, as their teams advanced via shootouts.
Should this match be pushed to the limit, a real possibility given the tactics the Russians employed in the round of 16, then expect shooters on both sides to have a tough time against these two goalkeepers.
Both Akinfeev and Subasic have emerged as two of the best goalkeepers at this World Cup. This quarterfinal match can only reward one winner. Who will it be? The answer could very well determine the outcome of this match.