Croatia surprised favourites Brazil to succeed in the World Cup semi-finals on Friday, successful 4-2 on penalties after a nailbiting last-eight tie completed 1-1 on the finish of additional time. Marquinhos missed the essential spot-kick within the shoot-out, hitting the put up when he needed to rating to maintain Brazil in it after Rodrygo’s earlier try had been saved by purpose keeper Dominik Livakovic and Croatia transformed all 4 penalties. It was a outstanding turnaround after Brazil had appeared set for victory when Neymar opened the scoring with a beautiful strike halfway by additional time that allowed him to equal Pele‘s Brazilian report of 77 worldwide objectives.

However Bruno Petkovic hit again on the different finish within the 117th minute for Croatia to pressure a shoot-out, and Zlatko Dalic’s workforce adopted up their win over Japan on penalties within the final spherical with this victory, which should go down as their biggest ever triumph.

They advance to the semi-finals, whereas Brazil must wait not less than one other 4 years earlier than successful a record-extending sixth title.

Neymar — who left the pitch in tears — had fired Brazil into the lead on the finish of the primary half of extra-time, working one-twos with Rodrygo and Lucas Paqueta earlier than rounding goalkeeper Livakovic to attain.

Nevertheless it didn’t break Croatia’s resistance because the 2018 World Cup finalists hit again to degree.

Brazil had by no means performed with the identical attacking aptitude as of their last-16 win over South Korea.

Croatia have been as stubborn and troublesome to interrupt down as ever, they usually have now gone to additional time in eight of their final 9 main event knockout matches, with the exception being their defeat to France within the World Cup remaining 4 years in the past.

It was by no means going to be straightforward for Brazil to play with the identical freedom and pleasure as of their demolition of South Korea, after they celebrated their objectives with choreographed dance strikes that appeared to upset some onlookers.

– Concern of dropping –

However the problem for Brazil coach Tite’s aspect — given the large strain that’s at all times on the Brazilian nationwide workforce at a World Cup — was to not let the worry of dropping take away all that pleasure.

The stakes get greater because the event progresses and Brazil got here into Friday’s recreation at Doha’s Training Metropolis Stadium seeking to keep away from falling into one other lure set by an achieved European aspect.

Brazil had been knocked out of the final 4 World Cups at both this stage or within the semi-finals, each time by European opposition.

Croatia could also be a nation of simply 4 million individuals however they bought to the ultimate 4 years in the past and Luka Modric, their inspiration then, stays one of many most interesting gamers on the planet at 37.

It seems {that a} midfield three of Modric, Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic and Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic can maintain its personal in opposition to Brazil too.

The Selecao had scored 4 instances within the first 36 minutes in opposition to South Korea. Right here they managed simply three makes an attempt on track within the first half, and nothing significantly troubled the Dinamo Zagreb shot-stopper Livakovic.

Brazil practically scored inside two minutes of the second half as an Eder Militao cutback was nearly become his personal by Josko Gvardiol, earlier than Livakovic produced saves from Richarlison, Neymar and Paqueta.

Additional Livakovic stops from Neymar and from Paqueta adopted, draining a number of the perception from a tense Brazilian assist.

It appeared as in the event that they have been heading for defeat when Neymar broke the impasse, however Croatia confirmed all their resilience to equalise when Petkovic utilized a first-time end to a low centre by fellow substitute Mislav Orsic.

Then got here penalties, and Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Modric and Orsic all transformed for Croatia, whereas Rodrygo and Marquinhos got here up quick.

Neymar, presupposed to take Brazil’s remaining kick, didn’t get the possibility, and his event ends in tears.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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