Match report as Marquinhos and Rodrygo missed penalty kicks, ensuring Croatia’s victory; Neymar scored in extra-time to equal former striker Pele’s 51-year-old record, and Bruno Petkovic hit a dramatic late equalizer to send the match to penalties. Croatia stunned five-time world champions Brazil in a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory at the Education City Stadium, advancing to the World Cup semi-finals. Brazil appeared to be edging out their tenacious opponents in extra time thanks to a moment of magic from forward Neymar, who drew level on 77 international goals with one of the country’s all-time greats Pele.
Croatia Stun Brazil Penalty Shootout
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Croatia probed pragmatically throughout, restricting and suffocating Brazil’s usual rhythm, before succumbing to Neymar’s brilliance in the first half of extra time – it was almost checkmate. However, there was a late twist in the enthralling story when Bruno Petkovic latched onto Mislav Orsic’s cross, benefiting from a cruel Marquinhos deflection that caught Alisson off guard, to net the most recent equalizing goal scored in a World Cup game, sending the quarter-final to penalties.
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Croatia, who needed two shootouts and an extra-time win to reach the final in 2018, kept their cool as Brazil’s Marquinhos and Rodrygo failed to convert, while Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric, and Orsic completed a perfect set of spot-kicks, ensuring progression to the tournament’s last four. “We eliminated the biggest favorites,” manager Zlatko Dalic said afterward. Croatia has now reached the World Cup semi-finals on all three occasions they have advanced from the group stage (1998, 2018, and 2022).
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For a place in the final, they will face Argentina, who defeated the Netherlands on penalties. In both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, the winner of the first quarter-final match went on to win the tournament; could this be a foreshadowing for the 2018 runners-up? With the score at 0-0 late in the second half, Brazil head coach Tite paced the touchline cautiously, looking pensive and concerned. His concern was entirely justified.
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Brazil entered this match with the same status and expectations that they had at the start of the tournament: firm favorites. A sloppy start to the game planted a small seed of doubt, with Croatia acting in typical stubborn and mulish fashion, but few could have predicted the ensuing drama. The five-time world champions’ odds had shrunk as the tournament progressed, but they have now been eliminated from four of their last five World Cup quarter-finals.
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Their particularly impressive display of flair and finesse, on display in spades against South Korea in their round-of-16 tie, had all but deserted them until Neymar ignited them in extra time. Brazil’s frustration was finally channeled into positive play by Neymar, who pierced the heart of Croatia’s otherwise solid defensive line, playing a neat one-two with Lucas Paqueta before dancing around the goalkeeper and lashing into the roof of the net – no samba, but plenty of celebration.
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Enter Croatia’s talisman Modric, who is making his 160th international appearance in a 16-year career. There must be something in the Adriatic water because after surviving a grueling last-16 tie against Japan on penalties, the valiant Europeans were determined to try their luck again. Modric waited until the 117th minute to launch a rare Croatia attack, finding Orsic on the move and feeding Petkovic. They then came out on top in the shootout with Dominik Livakovic saving Rodrygo’s spot-kick and Marquinhos hitting the post, leaving Neymar and co in tears and Croatia still dreaming of their first world title.
This is for the people of Croatia,” Dalic declared. “A fantastic match from start to finish.” This is not the end for us; let us continue. This is a win for all of us; everyone gave their all.” Thank you also to those on the bench who live and breathe this national team.