Croatia strikes, Brazil out of the World Cup

The 5-time champion Brazil is out of the FIFA World Cup 2022. They were one of the favourites in this world cup too. Tite organised the team in a 4-2-3-1 fashion and the lineup remained unchanged. Croatia on the other hand has made two changes to their side as Sosa returns to the lineup and Pasalic replaced Petkovic. In the first half of the match, both teams got chances, but they couldn’t convert them into goals.

Croatia played a 4-3-3 formation. Brazil was not at all comfortable with their first half of play while Croatia was much more comfortable with their play. But still, the first half remained goalless. Selecao couldn’t find rhythm in the first half. Brazil got a good start in the second half but Gvardiol and Livakovic didn’t let them give up a goal easily. Brazil made 3 changes in the second half.

Antony, rodrygo and pedro came for Raphinha, Vini Jr. and Richarlison. At the end of the second half, the score was 0-0. The match entered extra time as neither side got a breakthrough. Brazil made 2 changes as Fred and Alex Sandro came for Lucas Paqueta and Eder Militao.In the 106th minute, Neymar broke the deadlock. Neymar drew level with Pele’s all-time goalscoring record for Brazil with a brilliant move and finish. He collected on the edge of the box and played a one-two with Paqueta, who produced a sublime offload back to his team-mate. Neymar fended off a block and rounded Livakovic before smashing his effort into the back of the net. It’s Brazil 1- Croatia 0. In the 117th minute, Croatia found the equaliser.

Croatia kept their World Cup alive with a late goal courtesy of Petkovic as his left-footed strike took a deflection and beat Alisson. Orsic collected down the left flank and drove into the inside-left channel. He picked out Petkovic in the middle, who swept a left-footed strike towards the goal. It deflected off Marquinhos which took it away from Alisson and into the bottom-left corner. What a huge moment for Croatia. It’s 1-1. And the Extra time also got Over. It’s the Penalty Shootout. Croatia got first to kick. Vlasic found the goal. 1-0.

Rodrygo came to take the kick for Brazil. Livakovic saved it. Brazil fans were flabbergasted. Croatia’s Lovro Majer took the second kick and it was a goal. It’s 2-0. Casemiro took Brazil’s second kick and it was a goal. It’s 2-1. Next Luka Modric came for Croatia. It was a goal. It’s 3-1. Brazil’s Pedro came to take the kick. It was a goal. It’s 3-2. Mislav Orsic came for Croatia. It was a goal. It’s 4-2.

Marquinhos came to take a kick for Brazil and he missed it. That was a nightmare for Selecaos. They are out of the world cup. Tears shattered from each brazil player as well as fans. Croatia is through to the World Cup semi-finals for the second tournament in a row courtesy of a 4-2 victory over Brazil on penalties after their quarter-final clash finished 1-1. Neymar looked to have put the Selecao on the path to the last four with a brilliant goal to break the deadlock in stoppage time in the first half of extra time.

However, Bruno Petkovic equalised with a deflected effort to keep Croatia alive in the second half of extra time. Dominik Livakovic then performed his magic again to deny Rodrygo Silva from the penalty spot, while Zlatko Dalic’s men were perfectly piling the pressure on Marquinhos to score. The defender struck the post with a vital kick, sending Croatia through and Brazil home yet again at the quarter-final stage.