In Dramatic Upset, Croatia Knocks Brazil Out In World Cup Quarterfinals

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Neymar is once more going dwelling and not using a World Cup title. Luka Modric’s quest continues unabated.

Modric transformed one of many penalties as Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup on Friday, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a shootout to achieve the semifinals for the second straight time.

Neymar tied Pele’s file for many objectives for the nationwide workforce, giving Brazil the lead in additional time. However he wasn’t among the many 4 Brazilian gamers to take a penalty within the shootout, as an alternative diminished to tears on the sector at Schooling Metropolis Stadium whereas the red-and-white clad Croatians celebrated.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved the penalty first try by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the put up. Livakovic had already produced some key stops because the groups drew 0-0 in regulation and 1-1 in additional time.

“We're raised as fighters, giving our greatest,” Livakovic mentioned. ”And that’s the recipe for achievement.”

5 of Croatia’s final six matches at World Cups have gone to additional time, together with its penalty shootout win over Japan within the spherical of 16 in Qatar. The workforce has been profitable in eight of its final 10 knockout matches on the match.

Croatia's ahead #16 Bruno Petkovic fights for the ball with Brazil's defender #03 Thiago Silva and Brazil's defender #04 Marquinhos throughout the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Croatia and Brazil at Schooling Metropolis Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (Picture by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP) (Picture by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

GABRIEL BOUYS by way of Getty Photos

Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer and Mislav Orsic additionally transformed their penalties for Croatia, whereas Casemiro and Pedro scored for Brazil.

Each objectives got here within the extra half-hour, first with Neymar scoring late within the first half of additional time to provide Brazil the lead, after which with Bruno Petkovic equalizing within the 117th.

Neymar’s aim moved him right into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time main scorer with 77 objectives, however the ahead once more fell wanting profitable a serious title with Brazil and needed to be consoled by veteran defender Dani Alves as he cried after the match.

Croatia will subsequent face both Argentina or the Netherlands to attempt to return to the World Cup ultimate 4 years after dropping the title to France.

Brazil was trying to attain the semifinals for the primary time since 2014. The workforce hadn’t made it that far since internet hosting the match eight years in the past, when the Selecao was embarrassed by Germany 7-1.

Brazil was making an attempt to defeat a European opponent within the knockout stage of the World Cup for the primary time for the reason that 2002 ultimate in opposition to Germany, when the workforce gained for the final time.