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

Today World Cup quarter-finals Sweden Vs England 4pm Russia Vs Croatia 8pm After their enthralling penalty shootout win over Denmark last Sunday, 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 giants 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 are not 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. 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 will 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. Factbox: Russia versus Croatia When: Saturday, July 7, 2100 local time (1800 GMT/2 PM ET) Where: Fisht Stadium, Sochi Capacity: 48,000 Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil) Key stats: Russia beat Spain 4-3 on penalties in the round of 16 thanks to two saves by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. They were runners-up in Group A, beating Saudi Arabia 5-0 and Egypt 3-1 but then losing 3-0 to Uruguay. Russia are playing in a World Cup quarter-final for the first time as an independent nation. The Soviet Union reached the 1966 semi-finals. Artem Dzyuba and Denis Cheryshev have scored three goals each for Russia in the tournament while Luka Modric is the leading scorer for Croatia with two. Russians Aleksandr Golovin, Fyodor Smolov, Yury Gazinsky, Ilya Kutepov and Roman Zobnin are all one yellow card away from being suspended. Igor Smolnikov will return from suspension for the quarter-finals for the hosts. Croatians Ivan Rakitic, Marcelo Brozovic, Ante Rebic, Mario Mandzukic, Sime Vrsaljko, Vedran Corluka, Marko Pjaca and Tin Jedvaj will miss out on the semi-finals if they are booked on Saturday. Croatia beat Denmark in a penalty shootout in their last-16 clash, goalkeeper Danijel Subasic making three saves in their 3-2 victory. Croatia topped Group D with three wins out of three, including a 3-0 humbling of Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Croatia are seeking to emulate their best result in 1998, when they reached the semi-finals and finished third after a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the playoff. Croatia have qualified for five out of six World Cup tournaments as an independent nation since they broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Previous meetings: Russia and Croatia have never faced off in a World Cup. They have played three times, with Russia yet to record a win. Two matches were goalless draws, with Croatia beating Russia 3-1 in a friendly in November, 2015 - their last meeting.