LIVE: Brazil, Croatia Battle for Place in World Cup Semis

Will Brazil’s quest for a sixth World Cup title continue? Or can the 2018 runner-up spring a surprise and return to the semifinals? Follow along.

As it goes in search of a record sixth World Cup title, Brazil has been one of the most impressive teams in Qatar, but it’s going up against its toughest test yet in the quarterfinals. 

Croatia, the 2018 runner-up, stands in the Seleção’s way as the two battle for a place in the semifinals on Friday. They’ve met twice in the World Cup before, in the group stage in 2006 and 2014, and both times Brazil won. The stakes are higher now, though, with a spot in the final four against either Argentina or the Netherlands on the line.

Brazil enters on the heels of a sensational 4–1 win over South Korea, in which it led 4–0 after 36 minutes, putting on one of the most dazzling performances in the competition. Croatia’s road was significantly tougher, with the side being pushed to the limit by Japan after a 1–1 draw through extra time. Just as it did in the round of 16 in 2018, Croatia persevered in penalty kicks, with goalkeeper Dominik Livaković making three saves to emerge as the hero. He figures to be busy Friday, facing a high-octane attack that features a centerpiece, Neymar, who enters one goal shy of tying Pelé’s all-time men’s national scoring record (77).

Follow along here here for live updates and highlights of goals and key plays from throughout the match (refresh for most recent updates).

Here are the lineups for both sides:

Full World Cup squads

Brazil

GOALKEEPERS: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)

DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Pumas), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Marquinhos (PSG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Alex Telles (Sevilla)

MIDFIELDERS: Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham), Éverton Ribeiro (Flamengo)

FORWARDS: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

COACH: Tite

Croatia

GOALKEEPERS: Ivo Grbić (Atlético Madrid), Ivica Ivušic (Osijek), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb)

DEFENDERS: Borna Barišić (Rangers), Martin Erlić (Sassuolo), Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Josip Juranović (Celtic), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Staničić (Bayern Munich), Josip Šutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens)

MIDFIELDERS: Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Kristijan Jakić (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Luka Sušić (Salzburg), Nikola Vlašić (Torino)

FORWARDS: Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Perišić (Tottenham), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb)

COACH: Zlatko Dalić