2022 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals match previews

DOHA AND LUSAIL – The 2022 FIFA World Cup has now reached the quarterfinals stage, so spots are at stake for the semifinals. Which team will be going into semifinals and which one will lead all the way to the glory? Can France successfully defend the title?

● Matches

1. Brazil vs. Croatia (Dec. 9 at Education City Stadium, Al-Rayyan @ 6:00pm AST)

Croatia has met Brazil four times, losing three and drawing one. Two of these took place in World Cup group stages with Brazil winning both times: 1–0 in 2006 and 3–1 in 2014.

- Players to watch: Neymar, Vinicius, and Gabriel Jesus (Brazil), Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic (Croatia)

- Referees and officials:

a. Referee: Michael Oliver (England)

b. Assistant referees:

Stuart Burt (England)

Gary Beswick (England)

c. Fourth official:

Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

d. Reserve assistant referee:

Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)

e. Video assistant referee/VAR:

Pol van Boekel (Netherlands)

f. Assistant video assistant referees:

Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)

Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)

Juan Soto (Venezuela)

g. Stand-by video assistant referee:

Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)

h. Stand-by assistant video assistant referee:

Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)

2. Argentina vs. Netherlands (Dec. 9 at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail @ 10:00pm AST)

The Netherlands has met Argentina nine times, winning four, losing one, and drawing three. Five of those happened in the World Cup: a 4–0 win for the Dutch at the second group stage in 1974 was replied with a 3–1 win for the Argentines in the 1978 final. The Dutch won 2–1 in the 1998 quarter-finals prior to two goalless draws in the 2006 group stage and in their most recent encounter in the 2014 semi-finals, only for the Argentines to win on penalties this time.

- Players to watch: Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala (Argentina), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands)

- Officials

a. Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

b. Assistant referees:

- Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)

- Roberto Díaz Pérez del Palomar (Spain)

c. Fourth official:

- Victor Gomes (South Africa)

d. Reserve assistant referee:

- Kyle Atkins (United States)

e. Video assistant referee/VAR:

- Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain)

f. Assistant video assistant referees:

- Drew Fischer (Canada)

- Alessandro Giallatini (Italy)

- Julio Bascuñán (Chile)

g. Stand-by video assistant referee:

- Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)

h. Stand-by assistant video assistant referee:

- Corey Parker (United States)

3. Portugal vs. Morocco (Dec. 10 at Al-Thumama Stadium, Doha @ 06:00pm AST)

Morocco has met Portugal twice, having won and lost once each. Both took place in World Cup group stages with Morocco winning 3–1 in 1986 and Portugal prevailing 1–0 in 2018.

- Players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

4. France vs. England (Dec. 10 at Al-Bayt Stadium, Al-Khor @ 10:00pm AST)

England has met France 31 times, winning 17, drawing five and losing nine. Two of these took place during the World Cup with England winning both times: 2–0 in the 1966 group stage and 3–1 during the 1982 first group stage. They most recently met in a friendly in June 2017, with France winning 3–2.

Players to watch for this match are Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud for France, and Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford for England. Mbappe is the current topscorer for France with five goals as of 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 matches.

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