World Cup 2018: Russia vs Croatia prediction, stats, team news and preview as sides prepare for big quarter-final match
The nation will come to a standstill when Russia contest their first World Cup quarter-final meeting since 1970
FOR a team widely written off at the start of the tournament Russia have come a long way.
The nation will come to a standstill when they contest their first World Cup quarter-final meeting since 1970.
And after beating Spain on penalties in the last round who knows what could happen in Sochi.
A NATION EXPECTS
RUSSIA does not know what to expect after this run.
While this is still a dream for them the reality for Croatia is that they have their best team since the 1998 side that finished third in 1998.
KEY BATTLES
ARTEM DZYUBA is a tough centre forward and has scored three already this summer.
The towering Russian will look to try and bully Liverpool’s Croatian Dejan Lovren out the game.
That looks set to be the main on-field battle to watch...
WEAK LINKS
RUSSIA hit eight goals in their opening two games against Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
But they have had just one shot on target in their defeat against Uruguay and spot-kick victory over Spain and those stats are unlikely to change against Croatia.
Danjiel Subasic, despite his heroics in the last round, still looks a dodgy goalkeeper as was proved with Denmark’s first minute goal.
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LIKELY LINE-UPS
STAT THAT MATTERS
WHILE Russia have nine goals to Croatia’s eight, the latter look a lot more dangerous in front of goal.
They have 61 shots and 16 on target to their name, compared to Russia’s 33 with 12 on target.