FIFA World Cup 2022: Matches today, time, and full schedule

FIFA World Cup 2022: Lionel Messi of Argentina (L) and Neymar Jr of Brazil (R).

The FIFA World Cup 2022 has entered the business end of the tournament as the best eight teams are standing in the aftermath of a goal-frenzied Round-of-16 stage.

The tournament favourite kicks things off as Brazil takes on Croatia in the early kick-off on Thursday while the Netherlands and Argentina will wage war in the battle of traditional heavyweights in the later match.

Let us look at the two matches that start off the final eight stage.

Croatia vs Brazil - 8:30 pm IST

The Europeans will face their sternest test yet as they are tasked with the impossible situation of denying the tournament favourite its record sixth FIFA World Cup title.

However, Croatia is no pushover despite it having a very short history at the biggest stage in international football. The European side has punched well above its weight consistently and was a worthy runner-up in Russia 2018 when it lost to the Juggernaut that is France.

But it will definitely have to play out of its skin to match the Brazilians, who are on the back of a Samba-inspired 'walk in the park' 4-1 victory against South Korea in the Round of 16.

In Croatia's last five FIFA knockout games, four of those have gone to a penalty shootout, which the European side has triumphed in. The only other time Croatia did not play beyond the usual 90 minutes was the 4-2 defeat to France in the 2018 final.

Meanwhile, Brazil has been knocked out in the quarter-finals in three of its last four World Cup campaigns, losing to European opposition; France in 2006, Netherlands in 2010, and Belgium in 2018. And since winning the World Cup final in 2002, when it downed Germany 2-0, Brazil has lost all five knockout matches against European opposition.

Having said that, the five-time champions have won three and drawn one in the four previous meetings with Croatia and will definitely start as the overwhelming favourites.

The match will be played at the Education City Stadium, in Al Rayyan, at 8:30 pm IST.

Netherlands vs Argentina - 12:30 am IST

In this battle between the traditional heavyweights, both the Netherlands and Argentina will be on the front foot promising an exciting, high-octane clash.

The Netherlands beat the USA 3-1 in the Round of 16 while Lionel Messi and Co. defeated Australia 2-1 to set up this mouth-watering clash.

Since the disappointing campaign in the 2006 edition, the Dutch have reached the last eight in every edition since, making two semifinal appearances in the way (2010 and 2014) before failing to qualify for Russia 2018. The Dutch almost clinched glory in 2010 but lost to Spain's golden generation in the final to an Andreas Iniesta goal in extra time.

Since 1994, the Netherlands has never lost a quarterfinal match and the team's current unbeaten streak is an impressive 19 matches.

However, Lionel Messi will stand in the Europeans' way, who recently scored his first knockout goal, against Australia, in his 1,00th career game. The South Americans's record in recent World Cups is sketchy, having lost in the quarterfinal in 1998, 2006, and 2010, before making it to the final of the 2014 edition only to lose out to Germany. In Russia 2018, Messi and Co. lost in the Round of 16 against eventual champion France.

However, the last time the two teams met was in the 2014 semifinal, which Argentina triumphed in a 4-2 penalty shootout victory.

The match will be played at the Lusail Stadium, in Lusail, at 12:30 am IST.