"The game against Brazil should be the World Cup final," says Croatia's coach.

Brazil Agency -  Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalic, wanted the World Cup quarter-final clash against five-time champions Brazil to be a final, but said his team is ready to seek its first ever victory over the Brazilian national team.

Dalic compared Friday's (9) match with the final against France four years ago, in which the Croatians lost 4-2, and said that not having beaten Brazil on the four previous occasions means nothing.

"I believe this match will be the most demanding," he said in a press conference on Thursday (8). "I can compare it to the final against France in the previous World Cup." "A great opponent and a great challenge for us. We played 11 matches in these two World Cups and lost one. I wanted this match to come a little later, I wanted it to wait for us later (in the tournament), but that's life." "Croatia is a small country and is achieving success in two World Cups. We managed to reach this stage, but we are ambitious and we don't want to stay here," said Dalic.

Brazil is among the most exciting teams to watch in Qatar, while Croatia, with 18 new players since 2018, still has something to prove, according to Dalic.

Only a few veterans from their last campaign are included this time, led by 37-year-old captain Luka Modric.

"There are 18 new players who weren't at the World Cup [in 2018]. We need time to develop and mature. Our success in being among the top eight teams is tremendous," said Dalic. "They still need to prove their worth at the World Cup, and tomorrow is a good opportunity for that. We want to do more, and if we can, it would be spectacular. It would be even better if it were the final."

Croatia have lost three times and drawn once against Brazil, and Modric said now is the time for things to change.

"I hope we can change the tradition," he said. "The biggest game of a World Cup is ahead of us. They are one of the biggest favorites, they are always favorites, but based on what they have shown here, they deserve to be one of the favorites." "We have to play our best game and then we have a chance. We shouldn't be satisfied with just reaching the quarterfinals," he stated.

Subscribe to 247, Support via Pix, Subscribe to TV 247, in the channel Cuts 247 and watch: