Brazil, the world’s most reigning world champions, is eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Instead, it is the Croatians who are ready for the semi-finals.
On Friday night, the brass faced Croatia in the first quarter-final of the championship, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan – and the clash turned out to be an even one.
The first half was tentative and tight, in the second Brazil stepped up. But despite several relatively sharp situations, the score was 0-0 when 90 minutes were played – thanks in large part to Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic.
After 15 minutes of overtime, Brazil’s biggest star finally manages to get through. After a couple of beautiful wall plays, Neymar was able to get past the Croatian back line and around Livakovic – before pushing 1-0 straight into the roof of the net.
The result stood until minute 117 when Petkovic scored 1-1, after a fine play by Orsic – and a penalty decision becomes a fact, where the Croatians were the strongest, with four set penalties to Brazil’s two.