Brazil are eager to get back on form when they take on Croatia in a high-profile friendly to end this current international break.
Carlo Ancelotti is yet to weave his magic for the Selecao, as he did at Real Madrid. Brazil have only won two of their last six games heading into the clash with Croatia on Tuesday. Those results include a 1-1 draw with Tunisia as well as a shock defeat to Japan with a 3-2 scoreline last autumn.
However, in this current international break, they were defeated by France with a 2-1 scoreline, as this was a big test for Ancelotti’s players as they were playing one of the World Cup favourites in the process.
This is a Brazilian side with ambitions to win the World Cup for the first time since 2002, and they are not well prepared as things stand. Ancelotti will have another opportunity to play a high-profile friendly, this time against Croatia, to get their bearings right, as the manager will want a top-notch performance to get their World Cup preparations in full swing moving forward.
Meanwhile, an in-form Croatian side managed by Zlatko Dalic will want to test themselves against one of the most exciting sides in world football.
Dalic’s side have been the also-rans for a while, including in recent World Cups as well as the 2022/23 Nations League. Having ended a near-flawless 2025, Croatia have started the new year on point, with a comeback win over Colombia.
Another big test awaits against a team from South America, as Dalic’s men will pit their wits against Ancelotti’s Brazil, as both teams will angle to get a win and prepare well ahead of the World Cup.
Team News & Tactics
Brazil
The game against France did come at a high cost for Brazil, as key attacker Raphinha suffered a hamstring issue that is expected to keep him out of action for a month. Ancelotti will keep tabs on the Barcelona man, with the hopes of having him fully fit for the World Cup ahead.
The winger is one of three fitness concerns in the team, as Wesley was sent home with a thigh issue, while there are considerable doubts over Vinícius Júnior’s participation owing to muscular fatigue. Key defender Marquinhos, who missed the France defeat, is back in training and in contention to start against Croatia.
Gleison Bremer, Roger Ibanez and Douglas Santos are expected to start at the back, while Luis Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to provide width in what could be a 4-4-2. Joao Pedro and Matheus Cunha are expected to start up front, while Casemiro and Andrey Santos are expected to play in central midfield.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Ederson; Ibanez, Bremer, Marquinhos, Douglas Santos; Henrique, Andrey Santos, Casemiro, Martinelli; Cunha, Pedro
Croatia
Contrastingly, Zlatko Dalic has a near clean bill of health with his squad, and there have been no withdrawals since he brought this group together for this international break as Croatia get set to take on Brazil on Tuesday.
There are some key absentees, such as Josko Gvardiol, as his World Cup participation will be determined by whether he can win the race against time to turn up fit from a tibial fracture. From the current squad, only backup keeper Dominik Kotarski is injured, but the others are all fit.
Veteran and skipper Luka Modric only came off the bench against Colombia, and is expected to start against his former manager, Ancelotti, while leading his team out against Brazil.
Modric will have the company of fellow veterans Andrej Kramarić and Ivan Perišić in the line-up, while there are some other talented players, such as the young defender Luka Vuskovic.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Livakovic; Erlic, Vuskovic, Pongracic; Stanisic, Modric, P. Sucic, Perisic; Mario Pasalic, Kramaric, Baturina
Key Stats
- Brazil have managed only two wins in their last six games.
- Brazil have defeated Croatia in three of their last five meetings, including friendlies.
- Croatia are eager to secure a fifth straight win.
- Croatia have scored two goals in each of their last four games. Player to Watch
Player to Watch
Luka Modric
The magnitude of this game, purely based on reputation, is still high, and both sets of managers are expected to use a strong squad. Modric is probably the most standout player on the pitch, and so too will be the expectations when Brazil face Croatia.
With the World Cup approaching, Dalic will be extremely happy with Modric’s performances this season, and he will want the midfielder to be at his best. The occasion gets spicier as Modric faces his former manager, Ancelotti, as the pair won plenty of titles together at Real Madrid. The veteran will be the man to watch, as he will want to control the midfield and help Croatia win a fifth consecutive game.
Prediction
Brazil 1-2 Croatia
The two giants of world football will come into this clash as a measure to get some level of cohesion in their respective teams before the grand event in the summer. Brazil, of all teams, need to get their performances in order before the World Cup, but they are expected to miss a host of their key stars for this Croatia clash, which may work against them in the quest for a win.
Croatia are currently one of the most in-form sides in world football, targeting a fifth consecutive win on the bounce. The team, led by the formidable Modric, will likely put in a performance as a measure of their preparedness for the big one in the summer, and the availability of their key stars for this clash will likely bring about a win over Brazil.