Russia vs Croatia - Will ill-discipline impact the way quarter-final tie is played?

After their enthralling penalty shootout win over Denmark, Croatia were rewarded with a quarter-final meeting with Russia. Following Russia's win over Spain on penalties earlier in the day, which was a premature end to the tournament for one of football's heavyweights, Croatia will now fancy their chances of securing a semi-final berth on Saturday. Russia won’t make things easy for Croatia, however. 

The World Cup hosts proved they are no pushovers, even accounting for the 3-0 loss for Uruguay in their final group match, as they limited Spain’s attacking ability, took the game to extra time and eventually knocked out one of Europe’s powerhouses to set up a meeting with Croatia. It’s a tough game to predict as Russia have home advantage to call upon. What could prove important, still, is Croatia’s ill-discipline, which may impact their approach this weekend. 

Croatia have earned countless admirers this summer, with a number of football fans making them their favourite to win the World Cup now. They have immense technical talent in midfield, a hard-working number nine and wingers able to stretch the play in the form of Ante Rebic and Ivan Perisic. With Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic pulling the strings and Marcelo Brozovic breaking up play behind the pair, it’s a system that works. 

That being said, key players Mario Mandzukic, Rakitic and Brozovic, to name three, are all one booking away from a one-match ban. The slate may be wiped clean after the quarter-finals, but a number of Croatia players are on thin ice coming into the meeting with Russia. They aren’t necessarily a team that dives in to win the ball, with a return of 13.8 tackles per game actually the 6th lowest at the World Cup. 

Team news and odds in our match preview

The problem is that they can mistime these challenges and that lands the European side in hot water with officials. 14.5 fouls per game is the 11th highest return at the World Cup and second only to Russia (16.5) of those left in the competition. Eight yellow cards also ranks highly and no doubt this’ll play on the mind of those currently walking a tightrope with a semi-final berth up for grabs. 

Russia, too, have their disciplinary issues, with a number of key men also one booking away from suspension, notably lynchpin Aleksandr Golovin and star centre-back Ilya Kutepov. While both head coaches will be drilling into their players the need to focus on the game at hand rather than looking ahead to a possible semi-final, which would no doubt distract those one booking away from a ban, the previous ill-discipline from a handful of players may have an effect on the way this match will be played.