The quarter-final matches at the World Cup in Qatar are about to begin. Argentina against the Netherlands and before that the top duel between runner-up Croatia and record champion Brazil with the clash of the two superstars Neymar and Luka Modric.

Should the Brazilians win, the South American classic against Argentina could be on the horizon in the semi-finals.

Sam Ashoo is on site in Doha: “The Brazilians are training behind me. Croatia’s national coach Zlatko Dalic called this opponent fearsome. No wonder, the way they played against South Korea.

One of the scorers that night was Neymar, goal number 76 for him – should he score against Croatia, he would equal Pele’s record of 77. The Croats will have to be at their absolute best if they are to win against the Brazilians, who are after all looking to become world champions for the sixth time.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has left open the possibility of Rodrigo de Paul playing in the World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands. The 44-year-old coach of the South Americans, however, would by no means confirm reports that the midfielder is injured.

They had trained behind closed gates on Wednesday, Scaloni stressed. “I don’t know how you want to know that de Paul is not well,” he told a press conference at Al-Rajjan on Thursday in response to questions to that effect.

De Paul has played the most games under Scaloni since he took over after the 2018 World Cup. He is the clearer and driver in the South Americans’ midfield. “We know Rodrigo de Paul is crucial on and off the pitch,” said fellow midfielder Alex Mac Allister.

The Argentines are also braced for special cover for superstar Lionel Messi against the Dutch. “We will see what will happen on the pitch. We are used to our opponents always trying something different against us. So we have that in mind,” Scaloni said.

Runners-up Croatia see the clash with top favourites Brazil as an early final. “This will be the most challenging game for us. It is comparable to the 2018 World Cup final. I wish this opponent had come a little later, but that’s life,” coach Zlatko Dalic said on Thursday. The team led by former world footballer Luka Modric are clear underdogs against the record World Cup winners from South America in the Al-Rajjan quarter-finals on Friday (4pm/MagentaTV). Modric, who led his team to the final in Russia in 2018, called for composure. “We are not interested in being favourites. Of course Brazil are favourites. Teams like Brazil and Argentina are always favourites, but practice has shown that doesn’t have to mean anything. We are not worried,” said the 37-year-old.

While Brazil won their round of 16 match gloriously 4-1 against South Korea, Croatia agonised over 120 minutes and the penalty shootout against Japan. “We have already proven our mental strength,” Modric said. He himself was surprisingly substituted in extra time.