Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hailed his nation’s new technology of gamers only for making it to the World Cup quarter-finals however skipper Luka Modric believes they will pull off a shock consequence in opposition to event favourites Brazil. The Croatians have adopted their exceptional run to the ultimate in Russia in 2018 by reaching the final eight at this 12 months’s event in Qatar after qualifying from their group forward of Belgium after which ousting Japan on penalties within the final 16.

Only 4 of the gamers who began the defeat within the closing in opposition to France 4 years in the past, together with Modric, have been within the line-up at kick-off in opposition to Japan, whereas the rising star of the brand new crew is 20-year-old centre-back Josko Gvardiol.

“This is a new national team. We have 18 new players who were not here four years ago,” Dalic stated of his squad on the eve of the showdown with Brazil in Doha.

“In 2018 we had a national team that had been playing together for 10 years. They were playing in the best leagues and for the best clubs.

“We want time to mature however I imagine that for us to be right here at this World Cup among the many greatest eight groups on the earth is large.”

Croatia, a country of just four million people, has now made it to at least the quarter-finals three times in six appearances at the World Cup.

However, beating Brazil may be a step too far for a team led by a 37-year-old Modric and who were taken to the draining experience of extra time and then penalties by Japan.

“I agree that we did an incredible factor by attending to the quarter-finals however no matter that we want to do extra,” stated Modric, who will come up in opposition to his Real Madrid teammates Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao within the match at Education City Stadium.

“We know that the best match is forward of us. Brazil are at all times favourites. We must be ourselves.

“I believe that big things are possible but the only prerequisite is that we give our best.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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