Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic called Brazil's squad "scary" but says his team are not big underdogs in Friday's quarter-final against the World Cup favourites.

Spain suffered a setback against Japan in their last group-stage match that almost sent them packing but Luis Enrique's side despite that shock in still a real force to be reckoned with, if and when they get into their groove.

My support for Spain started from around 2018, when they had been passing a rather bad time. They crashed out of the world cup of 2018 rather meekly and the whole team seemed in shambles. From then on, I started following the team closely and could identify with them the way they came back from years of slumber and are becoming a force to be reckoned with, reaching the semi-final of Euro 2020 and the final of nation’s league, and making a strong case for this year’s World cup.

There is one thing Cristiano Ronaldo is famous for other than being one of the best players in the world and winning several titles to his name – being a fitness freak! Who else would make headlines for removing Coca-Cola bottles with international spectators watching? Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey in football is well-known, but in the process, he has also garnered a lot of attention for being a fitness enthusiast. Albeit he has been training for football since a young age, has he always pushed himself to reach peak fitness? How did he get here?

The picture of Moroccan player Achraf Hakimi interacting with his mother caringly after his team beat European giant Belgium, has to be one of the most endearing photos of this world cup so far. This poignant moment showed to us just how emotionally invested players like Hakimi are with this beautiful game. As a rising football star for years, Hakimi has garnered quite the fan following. So, let’s take a look at five things we love about Achraf Hakimi.

Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin did not play a minute of the World Cup but left Qatar with one of its biggest prizes after exchanging jerseys with Argentina's Lionel Messi after their round of 16 match.

Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin did not play a minute of the World Cup but left Qatar with one of its biggest prizes after exchanging jerseys with Argentina's Lionel Messi after their round of 16 match.

The first winter FIFA World Cup to be held in a dessert nation is now on full swing. Perched on a small peninsula in Persian Gulf of the Middle East, Qatar is featured by a tropical dessert climate and one of the hottest-rated countries on Earth. Even in winter, the highest temperature can reach to 30 degree Celsius.

Brazil have attracted the ire of former Man Utd star Roy Keane as he branded their dancing celebrations at the World Cup ‘disrespectful.’

World Cup favourites Brazil produced a performance to delight fans and terrify potential opponents on Monday as they ripped through South Korea with four first-half goals to secure a hugely impressive 4-1 victory in their last 16 clash.

Match highlights: Formidable Brazil steamrolled South Korea 4-1 to advance to the Quarter Finals.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he was unimpressed with Cristiano Ronaldo's behaviour after the forward reacted angrily when substituted during the team's final group game at the World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA said on Monday it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the Serbian football association following the team's bad-tempered World Cup clash with Switzerland.

Croatia have performed wonders to punch above their weight for so long in international football and are determined to keep their reputation going against Japan in their last-16 match at the World Cup on Monday, coach Zlatko Dalic said.

France head into Saturday's heavyweight World Cup quarter-final clash with England well aware that their hopes of carrying on in Qatar and retaining the title rest on the shoulders of Kylian Mbappe.

The Japanese football team, also known as the Samurai Blue, is raving about the World Cup stadium in Qatar in ways few expected. The discipline and coordination they carry as a nation consistently garner respect from their neighbours. Japan has all of the ingredients to be a football powerhouse: the world's third-largest economy, a population of 125 million people, a national passion for football, a prominent domestic league, and the infrastructure that comes with co-hosting its own World Cup.

With over 30 nations participating in this year’s World Cup, the field has once again become a melting pot of cultural expression. Particularly, South Korea and Brazil have made an impact in bringing a significant piece of their home to an international platform, giving fans from all over the opportunity to indulge in their cultural practices. The World Cup being watched by millions all over the globe not only presents the chance for teams to exhibit their skills, talent and sportsmanship, but also breaks cultural barriers.

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The game of football is a class apart, and so are some of the players — not just in terms of their athletic prowess while playing the game, but also in their fashion game — they stand apart. Some have a formal style, some prefer casual, and some straight up flamboyant.

Following a shock loss to Cameroon, Brazilian coach Tite will be delighted to welcome a plethora of first-team starters against South Korea in their last 16 clash.