Aleksandr Golovin – who has been linked with Chelsea and Juventus – said: Spain control the ball against any team in the world. We found a solution against that.
I think against Croatia we ll use our strong qualities and try to impose our style. It doesn t mean Croatia are weaker than Spain. It only means that Croatia have a different style. They don t need the ball all the time to create chances.
This suits me better. I know what I m talking about, I ve watched all their games in the group stage. I think it s going to be a very even game. The team that shows more character, that is more persistent, will gain the advantage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Russia – Artem Dzyuba
Artem Dzyuba has been directly involved in four of Russia s last seven goals at the 2018 World Cup (three goals, one assist), scoring both of their last two.
Croatia – Mario Mandzukic
All eyes will be on Modric and Rakitic but Mario Mandzukic scored his third World Cup goal for Croatia against Denmark in the last round – only Davor Suker (six) has scored more for them at the World Cup.
KEY OPTA FACTS
The last five host nations to feature in a World Cup quarter-final have all progressed to the semi-final (Italy 1990, France 1998, South Korea 2002, Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014).
Croatia have scored as many goals in four matches at this year s World Cup (eight) as they did in six games in their previous two World Cup appearances in 2006 and 2014 combined.
Russia had 10 shots on target in their first two 2018 World Cup games – they have managed just two in their last two matches, with one of those a penalty (Artem Dzyuba v Spain).
After keeping clean sheets in both of their opening games at this World Cup, Croatia have conceded once in each of their last two matches. They have not conceded a goal in three consecutive matches at the same World Cup tournament since 2002, when they failed to keep a clean sheet in all three of their matches.
Croatia have only lost one of their seven World Cup matches against fellow European opposition (W5, D1), while Russia have never beaten a European team at the World Cup (D1 L3), although they did eliminate Spain on penalties in the last 16 of this year s tournament following a 1-1 draw.
10 of Croatia s last 12 World Cup goals have come in the second halves of their games.
Croatia have faced the host nation at the World Cup twice previously, losing both matches against France in 1998 (2-1 in semi-final) and Brazil in 2014 (3-1 in group stage).
