Croatia Beats Brazil On Penalties In World Cup Quarterfinals
Dec 9, 2022, 11:29 AM
Neymar and Dani Alves of Brazil look dejected after their sides' elimination from the tournament after a penalty shoot out loss during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium on December 09, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup on Friday, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals for the second straight time.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty attempt by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post.
Chaotic Extra Time
The match had finished 1-1 after extra time, with both goals coming in the additional 30 minutes. Neymar scored late in the first half of extra time to give Brazil the lead, but Croatia equalized when Bruno Petkovic scored in the 117th.
Neymar’s goal moved him into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals.
Croatia will next face either Argentina or the Netherlands to try to return to the World Cup final four years after losing the title to France.
Croatia Advance, Again
Five of Croatia’s last six matches at World Cups have gone to extra time, including in its penalty shootout win over Japan in the round of 16 in Qatar. The team has been successful in eight of its last 10 knockout matches at the tournament.
Brazil was trying to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2014. The team hadn’t made it to the last four since hosting the tournament eight years ago, when the Selecao was embarrassed by Germany 7-1.
Brazil was trying to defeat a European opponent in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2002 final against Germany, when the team won for the last time.
Instead, Croatia advances sending Brazil home in another shocking result at the 2022 World Cup. A number of countries have caused upsets throughout the 2022 tournament. Croatia’s upset victory against Brazil is just another example of how chaotic the World Cup has become.
Prior to the tournament starting, Brazilian star Neymar mentioned that this World Cup may be his last. The 30-year-old will have to wait another four years to contend at the next World Cup which is slated to be hosted by Mexico, United States, and Canada.
