Croatia stunned five-time world champions Brazil with a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win at the Education City Stadium to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Brazil looked to be battling for victory over their stubborn rivals in extra-time thanks to a moment of magic from striker Neymar, who went down in Brazilian folklore to equal 77 international goals with one of the nation’s all-time greats, Pele.
Croatia probed pragmatically throughout while restricting and stifling Brazil’s usual rhythm before succumbing to Neymar’s brilliance in the first half of extra time – it was almost a checkmate.
Image: Neymar missed a penalty in the shootout as Brazil conceded two of their first four
However, there was a late twist to the fairytale story when Bruno Petkovic latched on to Mislav Oršić’s cross, capitalizing on a cruel Marquinhos deflection that mistimed Alisson to score the last equalizer scored in a World Cup match, taking the quarter-final to penalties.
Image: Bruno Petkovic celebrates after equalizing for Croatia in extra time
Croatia, who needed two penalties and an extra-time win to reach the 2018 final, kept their composure after Brazilians Marquinhos and Rodrigo failed to convert, while Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Meier, Luka Modric and Orsic produced a perfect set of points, ensuring progression to the last four of the tournament. “We eliminated the biggest favourites,” manager Zlatko Dalic said afterwards.
“I feel like a nightmare,” Neymar comparatively reasoned.
Croatia have now reached at least the semi-finals on all three occasions they have made it safely out of the World Cup group stage (1998, 2018 and 2022).
They will face Argentina, who beat the Netherlands on penalties, for a place in the final. The winner of the first quarter-final match at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups won the tournament – could this be a telling omen for the 2018 runners-up?
Moments from the match…
- 13th minute: Perisic fires a warning shot after good work by Pasalic
- 21st minute: Vinicius Jr. shoots straight at Livakovic
- 49th minute: Guardiol blocks Neymar, saves Livakovic
- 49th minute: Juranovic’s handball claims are disallowed
- 55th minute: Neymar, fed by Richarlison but cleared by Livakovic
- 66th minute: Paket’s side-footed effort is blocked
- 103rd minute: Brozovic shoots tiredly over the bar
- 105+1 min: Neymar breaks the deadlock in style
- 117th minute: Dramatic equalizer with guns Petkovic
How Croatia upset the favourites
Image: Croatia players celebrate after beating Brazil on penalties
At the end of the second half, with the score 0-0, Brazil head coach Tite walked cautiously along the touchline, looking thoughtful and concerned. His horror was fully justified.
Brazil entered this match with the same status and expectations with which they started the tournament – a firm favourite. A sloppy start to the match sowed a few seeds of doubt, with Croatia operating in typically dogged and lazy fashion, but very few would have predicted the drama that followed.
The five-time world champions’ odds continued to dwindle as the tournament progressed, but suddenly they found themselves eliminated – now exiting four of their last five World Cup quarter-finals.
Team news
- Tite named an unchanged line-up from the round of 16, with first-choice left-back Alex Sandro on the bench, not fully recovered from injury.
- Zlatko Dalic made two substitutions; Borna Sosa returned after missing out against Japan through illness, while striker Bruno Petkovic made way for Mario Pasalic to bolster the midfield.
Their particularly impressive display of flair and finesse, showcased in spades against South Korea in their round of 16, almost saw them off until Neymar came alive in extra time.
Brazil’s frustration was finally channeled into positive play by their chief creative catalyst as Neymar tore through the heart of an otherwise solid Croatia backline, playing a neat one-two with Lucas Paqueta before dancing around the keeper and smashing into the roof of the the net – no samba, but still plenty of partying.
Enter Croatia talisman Modric, making his 160th international appearance in a career spanning 16 years. There must be something in the water in the Adriatic, because after a grueling last-16 draw against Japan on penalties, the plucky Europeans were determined to roll the dice again.
Image: Dominik Livakovic starts the celebrations as Croatia beat Brazil on penalties
Modric waited until the 117th minute to launch a rare Croatia attack, finding Orsic on the move, who in turn fed Petkovic. The substitute wasn’t in the box but failed to get his shot right, capitalizing on Marquinhos’ fortuitous shot. Croatia is the first country in history (since 1966) to score with its first shot on goal when it arrived in extra time.
They then came out on top in the penalty shootout, with Dominik Livakovic saving Rodrigo’s spot-kick and Marquinhos hitting the post, leaving Neymar and co in tears and Croatia still dreaming of their first world title.
“This is for the Croatian people,” Dalic declared. “A great match from the first minute to the last. This is not the end for us, let’s move on.
“It’s a win for all of us, everyone gave their all. Thanks also to those on the bench who also live for this national team.”
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Brazil fans in Sao Paulo left in tears after their team were beaten on penalties by Croatia
Dalic: One of our biggest victories
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic hailed his side’s victory over Brazil, describing it as one of their “greatest” to date.
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Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic hailed his side’s victory over Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals, describing it as one of the “greatest” in history.
Analysis: Juranovic goes full Cafu to terrorize Brazil
Image: Josip Juranovic in a marauding match against Brazil
Sky Sports’ Louis Jones:
When you think of watching Brazil play at the World Cup, flying full-backs come to mind. That was the case in this classic quarter-final, but it wasn’t the yellow jersey that ruled, but Croatia’s Josip Juranovic. It was a performance similar to those the great Cafu used to create for Brazil. The Celtic man was a man in possession on that magnificent stage, offering his side an attacking outlet while containing Brazil’s talent pool when they ventured into his territory.
He gave Brazil a glimpse of what was to come in the 13th minute when he broke in from the right and delivered a quality cross that was not made the most of by Ivan Perisic. Danilo then tried the power approach to stop him, attacking aggressively with a high boot that earned the Brazilian a yellow card, before another sharp run from the full-back saw Perisic fire another effort that flew wide of the target.
A key example of his defensive brilliance was demonstrated by the fact that Vinicius Junior was substituted in the second half. It looked like a key tactic for Brazil to move the ball quickly to the Real Madrid wide man, but this time he was neutered by great one-on-one defending from Juranovic.
With the arrival of full-back Alastair Johnston at Celtic, it seems the Scottish outfit are already planning their life after Juranovic. Atletico Madrid are reportedly linked, but you’d imagine a lot more suitors would be sniffing around after a performance of this magnitude. In 120 minutes, Juranovic’s price may have tripled.
Analysis: Brazil fall as Tite dances the last dance
Image: Brazil head coach Tite
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:
It was Luka Modric’s most watched time. One who can get out of danger, make laser-like passes and intelligently control the speed and tempo of games at will. We got to see the full repertoire of one of the greatest midfield masters of this era in a game that was largely decided by the tenacity of Croatia’s middle third.
Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic ran the show, almost passively. They nullified Brazil’s usual threats. They disturbed and disrupted Brazil’s rhythm. And they embodied Croatia’s conscientious plan. Casemiro was barely in it.
A moment of Neymar’s magic initially lit up the tie, in the process equaling Pele’s record as Brazil’s all-time men’s goalscorer (77), but otherwise Tite’s side were found to be severely flawed. Relying only on historical success is a fool’s game. No team or nation has football immortality. Brazil have dropped out of four of their last five World Cup quarter-finals.
Another spam entry; they simultaneously became the first team in World Cup history to be eliminated from a knockout match after scoring the opening goal in extra time.
It is difficult to understand how a country…
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