Croatia have ended Brazil’s dream of the ‘Hexa’ and are in the World Cup semi-finals as they were four years ago. The vice-world champion from Russia beat the five-time world champion 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-finals on Saturday. After 120 minutes it was 1-1. Neymar advanced for Brazil in extra time (105′ + 1′), but substitute Bruno Petkovic (117′) managed to equalize.
Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed from the point
In the penalty decision, Rodrygo failed to Dominik Livakovic, Marquinhos shot at the post. All four players who competed scored for Croatia. Neymar seemed to have decided the game in front of almost 44,000 spectators. Brazil’s superstar overcame Livakovic, who had previously held brilliantly, after a double one-two. With his 77th goal in the national team shirt, Neymar drew level with Brazil’s currently hospitalized soccer legend Pelé (82). It was not enough as Croatia managed to equalize. Zlatko Dalic’s team will meet the winner of the game between Argentina and the Netherlands in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Brazil ended up dancing after the co-favourites went confidently into their eighth World Cup quarter-finals in a row. Coach Tite saw no reason to change his formation after beating South Korea 4-1. “Jogo bonito”, the nice game, didn’t happen this time. The Croatians made it clear in the first few minutes that they would be giving up another opponent. After the penalty thriller against Japan, left-back Borna Sosa and right winger Mario Pasalic were two newcomers to the starting XI.
Luka Modric and Co. initially used their advantages in midfield and tried to disrupt the South Americans’ play structure early on. Ivan Perisic missed the end of a Pasalic cross (13′). But Brazil’s defense didn’t allow anything else. This also applied to the Croatian defence, which used its physical strengths. Richarlison, Neymar or Vinicius Jr. hardly found any room for combinations. Neymar often dropped back to give the threader, the brilliant idea didn’t come up for the time being.
Brazil’s Poster-Boy had another chance from a free-kick just before half-time. The slightly deflected attempt was easy prey for Livakovic. In front of former Brazilian greats like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos or Rivaldo, the Selecao showed a lot of room for improvement when the half-time whistle was whistle.
Second half with advantages for Brazil
The break had an effect, and Brazil then picked up speed. When Vinicius Jr. crossed in, Josko Gvardiol checked his own goalkeeper during a rescue operation (47th), a minute later the ball jumped unhappily into Josip Juranovic’s hand in the penalty area. The VAR check rightly did not result in a penalty. Neymar appeared in front of Livakovic after ideal preliminary work from Richarlison, but was unable to overcome him from a tight angle (55th).
Croatia faltered and tried to take the pace out of the game. Tite, meanwhile, brought in fresh attacking power in Antony and Rodrygo for Raphinha and Vinicius Jr. Lucas Paqueta, who moved up, was again in front of Livakovic with a bit of luck with the ball, the Dinamo Zagreb keeper was the winner (66th) as well as against Neymar (76th). Dalic also tried to liven up the attack with fresh players. Brazil pressed again at the end of regular time but couldn’t force the goal.
Croatia had to go into extra time again. Once the opportunity presented itself to turn the game upside down. Petkovic duped two Brazilians, but Marcelo Brozovic shot well over the goal (103′). Cheers erupted before the end of the first half of extra time. Neymar combined with Rodrygo, then Paqueta, was again alone in front of Livakovic and this time let the Croatian fold. The 30-year-old is now one of just three Brazilian players to have scored in three different World Cups. Before him, only Pelé and Ronaldo had succeeded.
While Brazil felt safe, Croatia had to react. A team from Zagreb saved the team in the decision. Substitute Mislav Orsic went through the left and found Petkovic, whose deflected direct acquisition Alisson couldn’t tame. It was the only shot on Brazil’s goal in the entire game.
Again Croatia had to make the penalty decision, again Livakovic became a hero. He initially saved the fourth penalty at this World Cup in a row against Rodrygo. While all the Croatians scored, Marquinhos then became the fifth Brazilian to fire at the post.
Tore: 0:1 (105.+1) Neymar; 1:1 (117.) Petkovic
Penalties: 1-0 – Vlasic scores 1-0 – Rodrygo saves against Livakovic 2-0 – Majer scores 2-1 – Casemiro scores 3-1 – Modric scores 3-2 – Pedro scores 4-2 – Orsic scores 4-2 – Marquinho’s rod
Kroatien: Livakovic – Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa (110. Budimir) – Modric, Brozovic (114. Orsic), Kovacic (106. Majer) – Pasalic (72. Vlasic), Perisic – Kramaric (72. Petkovic)
Brazil: Alisson – Eder Militao (106. Alex Sandro), Marquinhos – Thiago Silva, Danilo – Paqueta (106. Fred), Casemiro – Raphinha (56. Antony), Neymar, Vinicius Jr. (64. Rodrigo) – Richardson (84. Peter)
Yellow cards: Brozovic, Petkovic and Danilo, Casemiro, Marquinhos