Brazil secured a 3-1 win over Croatia in an international friendly at Camping World Stadium, with late substitutes Igor Thiago and Gabriel Martinelli deciding the match. The victory came in Brazil’s final game before naming the squad for FIFA’s summer competition, and also brought a measure of response after Croatia’s 2022 World Cup quarter-final success.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team controlled large parts of the contest and created clearer chances, finishing with 13 attempts and an expected goals figure of 2.03. Croatia produced 12 shots for an xG of 0.95, but Brazil looked sharper close to goal, especially after the introductions of Endrick, Thiago and Martinelli during the second half in Orlando.

Brazil’s early pressure drew several saves from Dominik Livakovic, who reacted well to stop efforts by Danilo, Joao Pedro and Matheus Cunha. The pressure finally paid off in first-half stoppage time when Danilo collected the ball near the edge of the area and drove a powerful strike into the roof of the net, giving Brazil a deserved interval advantage.

Croatia improved after half-time and pushed Brazil deeper, with Bento called into action more often. The pressure told in the 84th minute when Toni Fruk delivered a cross from the right, and Lovro Majer slid in to guide the ball past Bento from close range, levelling the friendly and briefly threatening to repeat Croatia’s World Cup success.

Brazil responded quickly after the equaliser, as Endrick caused problems with runs in behind. In the 88th minute, Endrick drew a foul from Josip Sutalo inside the area, and the referee awarded a penalty. Brentford forward Igor Thiago took responsibility and calmly sent Livakovic the wrong way with a low finish into the bottom-left corner, scoring Thiago’s first international goal.

The scoring ended when Martinelli sprinted clear onto another through pass from Endrick during added time. Martinelli took one touch to steady and then struck a firm left-footed shot beyond Livakovic to secure a 3-1 result. Vinicius Junior played a key creative role throughout, operating high on the left and linking attacks in the final third.

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Vinicius Junior produced team-leading attacking numbers in the Brazil friendly against Croatia, underlining influence beyond the goals. Vinicius Junior recorded three touches in the Croatia penalty area, created four chances and completed 11 final-third passes. Only Luiz Henrique completed more dribbles than Vinicius Junior, with four to Vinicius Junior’s two, as Brazil showed greater attacking quality ahead of the summer tournament.