DPA
Al Rayyan
Neymar's goal was not enough as record World Cup champions Brazil crashed out 4-2 on penalties against Croatia in the quarter-finals of the Qatar tournament on Friday.
Rodrygo and Marquinhos missed from the spot for Brazil, while Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, captain Luka Modric and Mislav Orsic converted all four penalties taken by Croatia following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.
The 2018 runners-up Croatia were very well-organized and strong defensively, and managed to hold Brazil into a game of patience.
A scare, however, came in extra-time, when Neymar scored a 105th-minute stunner that seemed to send the five-time champions into the next stage, equalling Pele's national record 77 goals.
But extra-time experts Croatia, playing one for a fifth time in six knockout games at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, didn't settle for defeat and were gifted a counter-attack, which was concluded by Bruno Petkovic in the 117th.
The Croatian side have won all of their World Cup shoot-outs, after beating Denmark and hosts Russia in 2018, and Japan and Brazil in Qatar.
Brazil, meanwhile, have kept the negative record of losing a World Cup knockout stage game against an European nation since beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final. They have been eliminated in the quarter-finals for the fourth time in five events since then.
"We need this, this is Croatia. I said one should never underestimate us. My players are not normal," Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said.
Brazil defender Casemiro said: "We worked for this moment for four years, it's difficult to find the words. We had it in our hands and let it escape. It's a very difficult moment." Captain Thiago Silva added: "It's very sad but unfortunately that's part of football." The brilliant Brazil that easily beat South Korea 4-1 in the last 16 was nowhere to be seen, as this time they found a very solid Croatia, especially defensively, and couldn't find spaces to get to the goal, while the Croatians also weren't creative up front.
The best chance in the first half came from Brazil, but keeper Dominik Livakovic easily saved Neymar's free-kick in the 42nd minute.
After the break, a possible penalty for a handball didn't materialize, but Brazil looked more energetic and managed their clearest goal chance when Richarlison found Neymar inside the box in the 55th. The Paris Saint-Germain man had only Livakovic to beat, but the keeper made the save with his legs.
Some 10 minutes later, the Seleção knocked down their way through the Croatia defence, and Lucas Paqueta suddenly found himself with the goal open in front of him, but Livakovic again was faster and held the ball.
The energy brought to the pitch after the break slowly died down, as Croatia kept a solid stance in the back and had their best chance only in extra-time.
Marcelo Brozovic in front of an open goal, sent the ball wide and immediately paid the price when he could only watch Neymar break the deadlock.
The Brazil number 10 first played a one-two with Rodrygo and another one with Paqueta, found a tight space in the Croatia defence, danced around the keeper and hit a powerful shot into the net.
But Croatia got one last chance when star Modric led a conter-attack, concluded by Bruno Petkovic. His weak shot was deflected by Marquinhos into the net to set a shoot-out dispute.
There was more misery for Marquinhos as his decisive spot-kick found the post to clinch defeat, after Livakovic had denied Rodrygo, as that was enough for Croatia, who didn't miss any of their four spot-kicks.
"It's unbelievable. Our goal was great, and to make a comeback after going down 1-0, that was an incredible feeling," Croatia assistant coach Ivica Olic said.
"The boys deserved that, they wanted to play the whole time," he added.