AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Neymar is once more going residence with no World Cup title. Luka Modric’s quest continues unabated as Croatia beats Brazil on penalties in World Cup quarterfinals
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 succeed in the semifinals for the second straight time.
Neymar tied Pele’s file for many targets for the nationwide crew, giving Brazil the lead in further time. However he wasn’t among the many 4 Brazilian gamers to take a penalty within the shootout, as a substitute decreased to tears on the sector at Schooling Metropolis Stadium whereas the red-and-white clad Croatians celebrated.
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“It looks like a nightmare. It’s onerous to consider that is occurring,” mentioned Neymar, who stored his future with the nationwide crew open after the defeat.
Brazil coach Tite mentioned he had saved his greatest participant to take the fifth penalty.
“That’s the one with essentially the most strain, and he could be the participant with essentially the most high quality and psychological preparedness to take the shot,” Tite mentioned.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved the primary penalty try by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the submit. Livakovic had already produced some key stops because the groups drew 0-0 in regulation and 1-1 in further 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 further time, together with its penalty shootout win over Japan within the spherical of 16 in Qatar. The crew has been profitable in eight of its final 10 knockout matches on the event.
Croatia got here from behind in each sport of the knockout stage in 2018, and once more within the two elimination matches it has performed in Qatar.
“We have now a powerful character and we don’t quit,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic mentioned. “We had been ready for every part as we speak. We knew that as the sport unfolded, our probabilities improved.”
Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer and Mislav Orsic additionally transformed their penalties for Croatia, whereas Casemiro and Pedro scored for Brazil.
Each targets 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 purpose moved him right into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time main scorer with 77 targets, 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 Argentina on Tuesday to attempt to return to the World Cup ultimate 4 years after dropping the title to France. The Argentines beat the Netherlands in a shootout.
Brazil was seeking to attain the semifinals for the primary time since 2014. The crew hadn’t made it that far since internet hosting the event 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 because the 2002 ultimate towards Germany, when the crew gained for the final time.
Neither Neymar nor Modric might do a lot to provide their groups important probabilities early on, as each groups performed cautiously in assault and protection. Brazil was higher after halftime and got here nearer to scoring.
Neymar, beginning for the second sport in a row after recovering from an ankle damage sustained in Brazil’s opening match, had a few of his crew’s greatest alternatives, together with a pair close-range makes an attempt saved by Livakovic.
“He was the distinction on very essential moments,” Dalic mentioned of his goalkeeper. “He was there to save lots of us.”
Neymar scored his milestone purpose after dribbling previous Livakovic inside the realm and sending a shot into the highest of the online. Brazil was a couple of minutes from victory when Petkovic scored with a left-footed shot that deflected off Marquinhos earlier than getting previous Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker. It was Croatia’s solely try heading in the right direction, towards 11 by Brazil.
“It’s onerous to search out the phrases. We’re upset,” Casemiro mentioned. “Particularly due to the way it occurred, we had it in our arms. It’s robust. We have now to elevate our heads and attempt to transfer on.”
TITE’S DEPARTURE
It was Brazil’s final match beneath Tite, who had mentioned earlier than the World Cup started that he was not going to stick with the nationwide crew.
“It’s the tip of a cycle,” Tite mentioned. “The loss hurts, however I’m at peace with myself proper now.”