FIFA World Cup: Croatia inflict World Cup misery on Brazil
Croatia is again in the World Cup's semi-finals after beating tournament favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Tear time for Team Brazil after a disappointing defeat to Croatia.Marquinhos hit the post, and Dominik Livakovic held Rodrygo's penalty in the shootout as Croatia won 4-2.
With 77 goals, the PSG great Neymar broke Pele's Brazilian goal record and gave his team the lead early on in extra time. Four minutes from the end, Bruno Petkovic scored the game's equaliser, and it concluded 1-1.
Stubborn Croatia had stood up to five-time winners Brazil with an impressive second half, in which Livakovic kept Neymar at bay.
A tame effort from Vinicius Junior was the best Brazil could muster in a forgettable first half that saw both teams feeling each other out.
Croatia were the better team, pressing well and creating good chances but failing to capitalise.
However, they let up soon after the break as Brazil took control of the game.
In the last round, Neymar's deflected shot ended up with Vinicius, who failed to beat Livakovic - Croatia's hero- in the penalty shootout win over Japan.
Brazil had upped the tempo, and Neymar would have done better not to hit Livakovic when Richarlison set him up after 55 minutes of good work.
Croatia struggled to contain the Brazilian onslaught, and Livakovic had to make another smart save when Josko Gvardiol directed Eder Militao's cross into his own goal.
Offensively, Croatia was non-existent, while Brazil dominated the game but could not find a way forward.
Richarlison and Raphinha were sacrificed for Pedro and Anthony, but Brazil had to go to extra time against a strong Croatia.
However, Brazil seemed to run out of steam as Croatia began to threaten.
Petkovic outran the opposition defence and laid on for Marcelo Brozovic, but the substitute shot over from 15 yards.
It was a mistake Croatia would live to regret when Brazil scored the surprise opening goal in stoppage time.
Neymar danced past several opponents, rounded Livakovic and fired into the net from close range.
But just as Brazil was on the verge of advancing to the last four, Croatia struck again four minutes before the end of stoppage time.
Mislav Orsic broke down the left, and his cross was intercepted by Petkovic, whose shot was deflected by Marquinhos and beat Alisson.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Never. Give. Up. <a href="https://t.co/Rv3C6bZrB6">pic.twitter.com/Rv3C6bZrB6</a></p>— Luka Modrić (@lukamodric10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lukamodric10/status/1601290078877122561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Livakovic failed to beat Casemiro in stoppage time before the penalty shootout.
The goalkeeper saved Rodrygo's penalty before Marquinhos hit the post to decide the game for Croatia.