Brazil has not progressed beyond a World Cup quarter-final in the last 20 years. Against Croatia, the dream was in danger of being crushed in the quarter-finals once again. With 210 million more inhabitants than Croatia, Brazil were big favourites. But the small Balkan nation, with an impossible Dominik Livakovic between the sticks, proved a tough nut to crack. It wasn’t until injury time of the first extra period that Neymar conjured the necessary amount of magic to outwit the keeper. The 30-year-old himself was the architect behind the goal, where he combined precisely and effectively with his teammates to penetrate the Croatian defence. Suddenly Livakovic was the last obstacle on the way to scoring. Earlier in the match, Neymar had shot – and been stopped. This time he elegantly rounded the goalkeeper and placed the ball in the roof of the net. SAFE: Here Neymar scores 1-0. Photo: Manu Fernandez / AP It was his 77th goal for Brazil. There are as many as the legendary Pelé, who was hospitalized for treatment during the World Cup. – A sensational goal, writes the former England striker Gary Lineker on Twitter after the brass’ 77th national team goal. – Finally, one of the WC’s best players appeared. And what a goal it was, added former England player Jermain Jenas on the BBC. But it wasn’t over. Croatia drained the last of their strength on a counter attack and with their first shot on target of the match they succeeded. A huge contrast to Brazil, who had the bar and the bar. Bruno Petkovic put the wide side in after 117 minutes and the ball got a control that completely outwitted Alisson. EQUALIZATION: Croatia cheer freely for an equaliser. Photo: DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters – My God. Croatia equalizes with a ball that received a steering. I didn’t see this coming, but that’s football. You just never know, writes Lineker on Twitter. The match went to a penalty shootout. Rodygo Goes scored Brazil’s first penalty, while Croatia refused to miss. Then Marquinios hit the post – and out – the Brazil players burst into tears. They are out of the WC. – We have had loads of big surprises in this WC, but this is the biggest. It is a bomb that Brazil loses against Croatia, says Drillo. Neymar, the team’s biggest star, was probably the number five penalty taker, but never got the chance to step up to the penalty mark. After the match, he sat in tears on the turf, and had to be comforted by distraught teammates. CRY: Neymar was inconsolable after the loss against Croatia. The star player sat dissolved in tears on the grass. Photo: JEWEL SAMAD / AFP Goalkeeper completely frustrated Brazil stars At Portugal, 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo is about to be phased out of the team. For Croatia, 37-year-old Modric emerged as football’s Peter Pan as he tirelessly dictated the game against mighty Brazil. CAPTAIN: Luka Modric danced between the Brazilians and dictated play in midfield. Photo: FABRIZIO BENSCH / Reuters The first attempt at a characteristic Modric pass with the outside of the foot ended up with an opponent. After that, the Real Madrid player was virtually faultless. But tonight’s Croatian hero was at the far back of the pitch. After a calm, measured first half, the second started with chaos. First, stopper Josko Gvardiol was close to putting the ball in his own net, but was saved by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Seconds later, a double chance from Neymar and Vinicius jr. blocked by heroic Croats. In this period of the match, Brazil appeared as themselves. Playful, explosive and unpredictable. Neymar had another giant opportunity, before Lucas Paquetá had a great chance burned alone against the goalkeeper. Because in the Croatia cage, Livakovic was in the process of finalizing his application for the award as the best player on the field. STAR STOPPERS: Dominik Livakovic stood like a wall in the Croatia cage. Photo: Martin Meissner / AP The keeper continued to cause frustration among Brazil’s attacking stars, who lost new duels with the Croatian. Everything they had to offer was stopped by Livakovic. – He has been a match-winner in that match here, commented Norway’s former national team manager Egil “Drillo” Olsen for news Radio, and believed that it would be “a sensation” if the match went to extra time. Croatia to extra rounds – again Croatia progressed after a penalty shoot-out in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals of the World Cup four years ago. In the semi-finals, they decided after extra time. This year’s World Cup took a similar turn, with a penalty victory over Japan in the round of 16. Not even against Brazil was the match decided after 90 minutes. But this time, Croatia had a tougher time in the extra period. Brazil had been the superior team throughout the match, and when Neymar finally got the ball in the goal, wild cheers broke out among a mostly Brazilian crowd in the stands. However, the joy died down when Petkovic’s shot sailed in to make it 1-1. The match went to a penalty shootout, where the Croats once again proved to be the coldest.
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Croatia knocked out Brazil – ready for the World Cup semi-final after penalty drama – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
