Mark Irwin at Education City Stadium

SunSport’s Mark Irwin has this half-time report from the stands:

NOT exactly the football fiesta we’ve been promised so far as slow-moving Brazil struggled to get out of first gear.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the cautious opening 45 minutes and Croatia looked more than comfortable keeping the crowd favorites at bay.

Neymar was particularly disappointing, constantly giving the ball away with unnecessary jabs and turns and not really breaking his guts to regain possession.

Danilo had some luck off the hook with a yellow card from referee Michael Oliver when he took down Josip Juranovic with a heads-up challenge.

Other than that, there wasn’t much to get excited about, but on the bright side, the second half can only get better.

Mark IrwinSunSport

HALF-TIME – Croatia 0-0 Brazil

A minute of additional time ends with a perfectly balanced game at the break.

It wasn’t the most exciting half, but you feel the game will come to life in the second half.

Vinicius had Brazil’s best chance but neither goalkeeper has been seriously tested so far.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

43, Thiago Silva remarkably prevents the ball from rolling for a corner, passing it to safety under pressure from Perisic.

There’s no clear path for either team heading into half-time, but you sense Croatia will be the happier of the two teams.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

42, Neymar went for a goal with the angle against him.

A gash in the wall carried him into Livakovic’s grateful arms.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

40, Brazil continued to probe and Vinicius got between the defenders before being slammed to the ground by the already booked Brozovic.

Free kick at the edge of the area … Neymar is behind.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

36, Richarlison can’t get past Lovren who has formed a neat partnership with Gvardiol at the heart of the Croatian defence.

The checkered shirts continue to pile up, this time led by Brozovic, but he can’t test Alisson in goal.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

35, Croatia scoop him up and boos ring out from the home fans who want to see Brazil on the ball.

Credit to Croatia keeping the samba boys at bay with 10 minutes of half time to go.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

33, Juranovic swings the ball to Perisic through the corridor of uncertainty.

Alisson is forced into an unorthodox clear palm and an escape from Brazil.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

31, Brozovic is the next to enter the book after nibbling at the heels of Neymar.

Brazil will undoubtedly target the Croatian midfielder now.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

29, But to no avail.

Croatia break away with goal and Perisic cuts inside before kicking a ball over the bar.

A shot is a shot, but that never troubled Alisson in goal.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

28, Brozovic plays a struggling pass and Neymar is hacked onto the grass.

Neymar sends a ball to Militao who fails to connect on the fly.

But Bazil returns…

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

25, Juranovic gets behind Danilo who raises his foot and Michael Oliver quickly grabs a yellow card.

Dangerous game from the full-back who could consider himself lucky not to be shown in red.

Modric will take the free kick from the right side, and Thiago Silva clearly nods.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

23, Casemiro’s shot is deflected wide after a quick counter from Brazil.

They come to life and Croatia must remain vigilant.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

20, Brazil turning on style now.

Vinicius drags Juranovic one way and then the other before playing a one-two with Richarlison.

He hits it, but Gvardiol gets a crucial block. Neymar then attempts to continue on his own, but his curling effort is directly on Livakovic.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

17, A taste of Neymar as he slides past Pasalic, inciting the crowd.

But his ball in the field does not reach Casemiro and Croatia escapes.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

15, Modric takes Casemiro’s pocket at the edge of the area and floats a ball into Perisic.

Militao manages to get clear, but Brazil are under the hammer here.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

12, How lucky for Croatia!

Juranovic advances from right-back and finds Pasalic punching a ball through the penalty area.

He escapes Perisic and falls on Juranovic who had continued his race. But he goes after him and Thiago Silva hampered his body.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

10, Brazil finds its samba rhythm.

Vinicius finds himself in acres of space but delays the shot, running into trouble.

Casemiro quickly gets it back and finds Raphinha who can’t quite keep it in play on the secondary line.

Vinicius really needed to shoot there.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

6, Croatia hit the ball with confidence, seizing an opportunity.

An early sign that the European team won’t just sit back and defend, but chase a goal.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

4, Vinicius has a chance!

The Brazilian winger sees his first shot blocked and tries again from the left side.

It’s on target, but quite routine for Livakovic in goal.

Croatia 0-0 Brazil

2, There is a typically wary feel to the game in the opening minutes.

Casemiro is the first to commit, and the first to take a foul against Kovacic.

Kick-off – Croatia vs Brazil

The familiar face of Michael Oliver whistles and Croatia gets the ball rolling.

As darkness falls on Doha, this huge showdown is underway!

Here are the players!

Both sets of teams exit the tunnel for the fifth time in this tournament. It’s the quarter-final!

And then there are the national anthems.

Raphinha’s Hunting Stats

Barcelona striker Raphinha has created more chances and taken more shots than any other Brazilian player in the World Cup.

However, he is yet to register a goal or assist in all tournaments.

Could he finally get his reward this afternoon?

Aging like a fine wine

Luka Modric makes his 160th cap for Croatia tonight.

At 39, he becomes the oldest midfielder to play in a World Cup quarter-final since Lothar Matthaus in 1998, who faced Croatia.

With this likely being Real Madrid’s last major tournament in the checkered shirt, can he lead them to a second consecutive semi-final?