CROATIA midfielder Mateo Kovacic has admitted that it will be tough for his team against Brazil in the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-finals today, but he believes there is a way past the favourites.
Russia 2018 runners-up Croatia have their sights set on a World Cup final once again and Brazil stand in their path, the five-time champions keen to justify their status as favourites.
After squeezing past Japan on penalties in the round of 16, Kovacic discussed Croatia’s journey so far, explaining their approach against Brazil.
When he was asked if there was a formula to beat the formidable Brazil side, Kovacic responded in the affirmative.
“It’s tough to say at this point. We have time to analyse them, evaluate their strengths and their weaknesses. What we need to do now is focus on us. We need to be united and aggressive,” the Chelsea star told FIFA+.
“We are a talented team. Brazil is not too happy when the opposing team keeps possession of the ball, so we will try to impose our style of play. We will attack and try to make it through.
“Yes, we are facing a big match, which is normal for the World Cup quarter-final. The opposition is strong, and they play great football. We want to prove we play great football too, and to try to make it to the semis.”
Kovacic believes Croatia have been toughened by their opponents so far in Qatar in the run to the quarter-finals.
He added: “I think there is no such thing as an easy opponent in the World Cup. It will always be tough, no matter who you play against.
“We experienced this with the great teams of Morocco, Belgium, Canada and Japan. Japan played a great match and a great tournament.
“All of those teams are exceptional and now we are to face another exceptional team. We will be prepared and try to play high-quality football against them.”
Croatia reached their first-ever World Cup final four years ago against all expectations before losing to France.
Kovacic is playing down expectations of back-to-back final appearances but expressed pride in how far Croatia have come in global football.
“We tried not to think too far ahead back in Russia. Our approach back then was the same as now: one match at a time,” he noted.
“We had a tough group. Then we focused on Japan. Now we are about to play the quarter-final match against Brazil. That is the only focus we have now.
“We need to beat Brazil, and what happens afterwards is in God’s hands.
“Everyone keeps asking us the same thing over and over: how is it possible such a small country with less than four million citizens can make it this far?
“We fight. We fight and we always stick together. What keeps us going is the pride we have in playing for our country. “We can’t wait to get together and I think that has been obvious to everyone, this has been the case for several years now.
“It’s a huge honour to play for Croatia and represent our country as well as we can. That is exactly what we have been doing in this World Cup.”
