Croatia Eliminates Favored Brazil from World Cup 2022
Match Came Down to Penalty Kicks
Croatia continues on in the World Cup, eliminating favored Brazil on Friday in a dramatic quarterfinal match that came down to penalty kicks.
Croatia advanced to the semifinals to play the winner of the Netherlands-Argentina, but the 1-1 (4-2) match wasn’t without a thrill.
After the countries played to scoreless tie in regulation, they went to extra time.
The Brazilians struck first as Neymar scored a beautiful goal.
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Neymar with a goal fitting of a tie with Pélé for all time goal leader in Brazil’s history. My goodness 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/lq3HAt4RIP
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) December 9, 2022
Neymar has now equalled Pele’s all-time goal record for Brazil 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aoR4M9Oa4W
— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2022
Just when it seemed all was lost for Croatia, it got the equalizer on a goal by Bruno Petkovic in the 117th minute. There is no Golden Goal as the overtime play continues until 120 minutes elapse.
CROATIA TIES IT IN THE 117TH MINUTE 😱😱
WHAT. A. GAME. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/s1mI0WByiX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
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And that is how the 120 minutes ended with the countries tied at 1-1. Croatia, the 12th-ranked team in the world, against Brazil, the world No. 1, with a semifinal spot on the line came down to penalty kicks.
Croatia converted each of its first four penalty kicks, including the first by Nikola Vlasic. Rodrygo was denied by goalkeeper Dominik Livaković on Brazil’s first attempt and Croatia never gave them an opening.
SAVED BY LIVAKOVIC
Croatia: ✅
Brazil: ❌ pic.twitter.com/h9CHpchpTD— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Four penalties good for Croatia!
Croatia: ✅✅✅✅
Brazil: ❌✅✅ pic.twitter.com/njm9afoiQZ— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
It came down to the last chance for Brazil to remain alive. Marquinhos’ kick went off the left post and Brazil was finished.
The defeat was a stunning setback for the five-time World Cup champions. Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002 and Friday’s loss marked the fourth time it was ousted in the quarterfinals since that victory.
OFF THE POST
CROATIA WINS IT 😱🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/N6BsJVP2PI
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
CROATIA TAKES DOWN BRAZIL 😱
THEY ARE MOVING ON TO THE SEMIFINALS 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/knPg3drRnd
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Livaković put on a world-class performance today for Croatia 👏🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/9BYsYAnQBb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Heartbreak for Neymar 💔🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/EDLX3YZxHW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
There was joy in Croatia, the country that lost to France 4-2 in the 2018 World Cup final. The Croats are one match away from reaching the championship game again.
SCENES
Croatia fans absolutely lost it after clinching a spot in the semifinals 🎉🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/u0anRp6Of3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
