Tournament favorites Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup on penalties as Croatia held their nerve to reach the semi-finals.
Croatia, beaten finalists four years ago, scored with all four of their spot-kicks as Rodrigo – taking his side’s first kick – was denied by the brilliant Dominik Levakovic and Marcovin Hoes’ crucial fourth effort hit the post. Targeted.
As the ball hit the woodwork’s feet and bounced, the Croatian team rushed to celebrate with their goalkeeper, while the Brazilians took to the turf knowing their dream of a sixth crown was over.
After an engrossing 90 minutes, Tite’s men thought they had won it in extra-time when Neymar scored a superb effort to equal Brazil’s ‘official’ men’s goalscoring record.
But substitute Bruno Petkovic had other ideas, scoring Croatia’s first shot on target in the 117th-minute equalizer to send the game to a nerve-wracking shootout.
And it was the European team that triumphed once again, doing so in similar fashion against Japan in the last 16, setting up a semi-final clash with the Netherlands or Argentina on Tuesday.
Croatia showed patience for their favorite players.
It wasn’t in the script.
Brazil were due to dance into the last four in search of another star on their shirt but their hopes ended in cruel fashion.
Neymar, who scored his 77th international goal to equal Pele’s official tally, now shares a record recognized by FIFA but not the national team – as he scored three times in friendlies for the club. The World Cup winner also counted his goals.
And the Paris Saint-Germain forward won’t get the chance to outdo the legend at this tournament, as Brazil once again fell short against the European nation. Since defeating Germany in the 2002 final, they have been knocked out of five consecutive World Cups by a European side.
It should have been the moment for Neymar, when he needed it most with a clinical finish to complete his side’s rout, but he was left in tears after the shootout.
He should have won it for them in normal time but neither he nor Lucas Piqueta could get past the inspired Levakovic, who made 11 saves in total, the most by any goalkeeper at the tournament.
While most were routine, Livakovic had to be in the right place at the right time to make a stop and he certainly was with Brazil’s first penalty, diving just right to keep out Rodrigo’s strike. .
Croatia are a disciplined and stubborn outfit, but they didn’t manage a shot on target until three minutes from the end of extra time, as Petkovic’s side-footer beat Alisson.
Zlatko Dalic’s men have once again shown their mental strength and stamina to come through – as eight of their last nine knockout matches at major tournaments have now gone into extra time.
Once it went to penalties, Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Major, the ever-present Luka Modric and Mislav Orsk all had efforts, while Neymar was not among Brazil’s first four penalty-takers, leaving him to take the decisive fifth. Which never came.
Croatia’s second straight shootout win took them to their third World Cup semi-final.
