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Neymar
The Brazilian team eliminated its South Korean counterpart and qualified for the quarter-finals following winning four goals to one.
In less than 36 minutes from the start of the match, the Samba team crushed its opponent, leading by four clean goals, which ended any hope of South Korea qualifying for the quarter-finals in the first half of the match.
Brazil’s goals were scored by Vinicius, Neymar, Richarlison and Pagueta.
But the Korean team caught its breath in the second half and launched lightning and dangerous attacks on the Brazilian goal. Baek Sung Ho succeeded in hitting a missile from 30 yards from outside the penalty area, oblivious to the Brazilian goalkeeper, and the ball settled in the corner of the goal.
Croatia also qualified for the quarter-finals following defeating Japan in a penalty shootout.
And the tie dominated with a goal for a goal during the regular time and the extra halves.
Japan had qualified from Group E with two victories over Spain and Germany, while Croatia advanced to the round of sixteen following finishing second in Group F behind Morocco.
Ivan Perisic’s pressure on Japan’s defender Tomiyasu succeeded in carrying out the first serious attack on the Japanese shooter.
But the reaction of the Japanese was fierce, as he had three attacks on Levakovic’s goal, one of which was translated into a goal of progress in the first half through Daisen Maeda.
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“Japan were by far the better side,” former England player Jermaine Jenas told the BBC. “I really enjoyed watching them for 45 minutes. They absolutely deserve the lead so far.”
In the second half, Luka Modric – the captain of Croatia, who plays his 16th match in the history of the World Cup – had to lead his team to show the team’s status, so it was Perisic’s header that hit goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda in the 56th minute.
And Perisic, who was one of the stars of the match, and the Tottenham Hotspur player, is one of only four players to score at least a goal in their participation in the last three World Cups, joining Xherdan Shakirai, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then Modric (38 years), the Real Madrid player, hit a powerful ball that was ably saved by the Japanese goalkeeper, and it seemed that the twelfth seed, according to the FIFA classification, had imposed his dominance on the course of the half.
It seemed that the match was heading for overtime, with the final minutes of the match characterized by calmness from the two teams.
And following the end of the regular time, former England defender Rio Ferdinand said on BBC Radio: “Japan needs to raise its level in the extra two halves, as the team seemed to be afraid to cross the middle of the field, they should change the game plan.”
Veteran Luka Modric left the field minutes following the start of the first extra period.
And Perezic hit once more, receiving a cross, but the Japanese bloc prevented the goal from being threatened.
Kaoru Mitoma responded with a powerful shot that almost hit the net, before the end of the first extra period, had it not been for goalkeeper Levakovic.
Caution dominated the performance of the two teams, although the Japanese preferred the option of counter-attacks.
But there was no change in the result, and the match headed to a penalty shootout.
When executing the penalty shootout, the Samurai team missed three kicks to grant the pass to the quarter-finals for Croatia, which failed in a single kick.
Jermaine Jenas, on BBC Radio, praised Croatian goalkeeper Levakovic, who saved many balls, including three penalties, to advance his country to the quarter-finals.
