If they are to draw a line under two barren decades this winter, Brazil will have to master all the arts. The choreographed routines with which they greeted each goal against South Korea were looked upon dimly in some quarters but that is a trifling concern. The more pressing theme is whether Croatia, with their savvy and seasoned core, will allow as many opportunities for festivity when they face Tite’s players in the last eight.
Another exit at this stage would not be enough for Brazil, although a garrulous Tite showed little sign of strain. He played along with a journalist’s suggestion of potential mascot status for the cat that interrupted a Vinícius press conference on Wednesday; if a particularly spicy question, usually on the topic of dancing, came his way he asked his interlocutor’s name and fired back. “I will not make comments to those who do not know Brazilian history and culture,” he told one of them.
In a curious climbdown Dalic apologised for offending anyone in the winter sports fraternity who might have been upset when he said football is “not figure skating, this is a fight for a result” amid criticism of Croatia’s muted attacking performance against Japan. The critical battle may lie in midfield, where Casemiro will be given the task of holding the fort against Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic. Casemiro has played with the first two at Real Madrid; all three are battle-hardened and Tite may wrestle with the option of recalling Fred to subdue their influence. Then again, sacrificing a more creative force would risk playing into his opponents’ hands.
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