A quarterfinal with a lot of history

   MADRID, 8 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Croatia-Brazil, the Netherlands-Argentina, Morocco-Portugal and England-France are the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar, which start this Friday, in what is the final stretch to fight for the coveted trophy. Some clashes with a lot of history and antecedents that will also play their role in Qatar.

Croatia-Brazil. Friday, 4:00 p.m.

It will be the fifth clash between the two teams, a series in which the 'Canarinha' is undefeated with three wins and a draw. Although it is not a very long-lived rivalry, Croatia and Brazil have already met twice in a World Cup, both in the group stage. The first was in Germany 2006, when the cariocas won by a minimum thanks to Kaká's goal before the break, in a team with Adriano, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cafú or Roberto Carlos.

On that occasion, Brazil qualified as first in the group towards the round of 16, while the 'chess' team was unable to win any of their three games and was eliminated, also sharing a group with Japan and Australia. They did not meet again until eight years later, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when the hosts prevailed again (3-1) with a double from Neymar, who was already the beacon of that team. As in 2006, the Croats were eliminated in this first phase for the third consecutive participation.

The other two direct confrontations were two friendlies, with a draw (1-1) in 2005 and a Rio de Janeiro victory in 2018 (2-0). In this Friday's match, there will be important duels on the pitch, such as Modric-Casemiro, or the litmus test for the Lovren-Gvardiol center-back pair with a dream attack from Rio de Janeiro made up of Vinicius, Neymar, Raphinha and Richarlison.

Netherlands-Argentina. Friday, 8:00 p.m.

Both teams are two old acquaintances, with numerous historical confrontations. This Friday will be the sixth duel in a World Cup between the two teams -the record in this tournament-, the second time they face each other in a World Cup quarterfinal. On that occasion, in the 1998 World Cup, the Dutch beat the 'Albiceleste' with goals from the historic Patrick Kluivert and Dennis Bergkamp.

The 1978 World Cup final will remain in the memory, which they won in extra time (3-1) -with goals from Mario Kempes and Daniel Bertoni Argentina against 'Clockwork Orange', to avenge the defeat (4-0) in 1974 The third face to face in a World Cup took place on the last day of Group C in Germany 2006, which ended with a 0-0, already with the two teams with the ticket for the round of 16. As an anecdote, this was Messi's first game as a starter in a World Cup.

Finally, they were rivals in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they repeated the 0-0 draw, leading their progress to penalties. In them, the goalkeeper Romero emerged as a hero in a shootout in which he stopped two shots (4-2).

Morocco-Portugal. Saturday, 4:00 p.m.

Only two previous World Cup clashes between the two teams, with a very even balance. The first dates back to 1986, in a group stage that the Africans would end up dominating with four points, after beating the Portuguese (1-3).

In that edition they marked the ceiling of the round of 16, a barrier that they have surpassed in Qatar, and that they have improved after defeating Spain on penalties and reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. It is the fourth team to do so in all of history, and it has the challenge and motivation of becoming the first African team to celebrate reaching the World Cup semifinals.

The other direct confrontation was won by Portugal in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a solitary goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. On that occasion, they were framed with Iran and Spain, and the Africans were eliminated in that first phase.

England-France. Saturday, 8:00 p.m.

World class duel in Qatar for a place in the semifinals. Both teams can boast of track records, since the French have two Euro Cups (1984 and 2000) and two World Cups (1998 and 2018), while the English have one World Cup (1966). Of the more than 30 clashes between the two teams, only two of them have taken place in World Cups.

In 1966, England won (2-0) in the first phase against a France that was eliminated at the first exchange. The 'Roosters' could not take revenge in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when the 'Three Lions' won again (3-1) in the second and last match between the English and French.

These quarterfinals in Qatar will be the first meeting between the two in a tie for a final phase of a major tournament. Their most recent confrontation occurred in 2017, in a friendly that the French won (3-2). In the last ten years, they have only met three times, with the Euro 2012 group stage match being the most important of the last decade, which ended 1-1.