LiveScore
International football can often turn the best of friends into enemies — and this year’s World Cup quarter-final matches will be no different.
Each of the tournament’s eight remaining sides have players who will face off against club colleagues, with camaraderie set to be cast aside in the heat of battle.
We take a closer look at a domestic duel from each of the four ties.
Luka Modric (Croatia) vs Vinicius Jr (Brazil)
If Croatia are to have any chance of stunning tournament favourites Brazil, they will need their metronomic midfield maestro Luka Modric to be at his devastating best.
Despite reaching the ripe old age of 37, the ex-Tottenham man has matured like a fine wine and has once again been hugely influential for his nation in what will surely be his last World Cup.
Among all central midfielders at the tournament so far, Modric ranks inside the top five for crosses (22), final-third passes (60), interceptions (seven) and shots on target (three).
Meanwhile, his Real Madrid colleague Vinicius Jr is playing in his maiden World Cup and having plenty of fun in the process, with a goal and two assists to his name so far.
He ranks inside the World Cup’s top 10 forwards for chances created (eight), attempted take-ons (11) and open-play assists (two) and will be relishing facing an aging Croatian backline.
It would be fitting if the Los Blancos youngster — who has previously spoken of how much he has learned from Modric — could bring the curtain down on his club team-mate’s international career.
Nathan Ake (Netherlands) vs Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands outfit enter their quarter-final against Argentina unbeaten in Qatar but are, in the eyes of many, considered underdogs in this fascinating contest.
The Oranje have played their four games to date within the realms of fine margins and a miserly two goals conceded in those contests suggest they will have a chance of keeping La Albiceleste quiet.
Away from the obvious presence of Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City man Nathan Ake is having an efficient tournament and his club-level knowledge could come in very handy here.
Julian Alvarez, who left his homeland to join the Premier League champions last summer, has filled all three forward positions for Lionel Scaloni’s men so far, notching strikes against Poland and Australia.
Though he has only made 16 senior appearances for his country, the 22-year-old has gone about his business like a seasoned professional, hitting the third-most shots on target of any striker at the tournament (five).
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