The quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup take place over Saturday and Sunday (NZT).
Here’s what to watch out for:
READ MORE: Ricki Herbert’s update on the World Cup >>>>
Games to be played on Saturday December 10, 2022
Quarterfinals
Croatia v Brazil
Education City Stadium, Doha, 4am (NZT)
The quarter-finals kick off with 2018 runners-up Croatia taking on record champions Brazil.
Croatia have won their previous two FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, 3-0 versus Germany in 1998 and 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Russia in 2018.
Their record at the finals against South American sides is W1 L4, the most recent contest providing the win, 3-0 against Argentina in 2018.
The teams have met four times before, a draw preceding three Brazil victories, two of those in opening FIFA World Cup group fixtures, 1-0 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2014, when Neymar scored twice on his finals debut.
Netherlands v Argentina
Lusail Stadium, Lusail, 8am (NZT)
The Netherlands have already beaten the champions of Africa (Senegal), Asia (Qatar) and Concacaf (USA) at the tournament.
Now they are bidding to add another to their list — South American title holders Argentina, who have reached the quarter-finals following successive wins against Mexico, Poland and Australia.
The teams have met five times before at the FIFA World Cup. The most notable encounter was the 1978 final, which Argentina won 3-1 after extra time in Buenos Aires to lift the trophy for the first time.
The South American side also came out on top in the most recent fixture, 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the 2014 semi-final, when Louis van Gaal was also in charge of the Oranje.
Games to be played on Sunday December 11, 2022
Quarterfinals
Morroco v Portugal
Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama, 4am (NZT)
England v France
Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 8am (NZT)
More from the World Cup
READ MORE: Our previous World Cup stories >>>>
More football stories
