World Cup score: Brazil eliminated as Croatia advance to semifinals after penalty shootout

Croatia have won from 12 yards out again

Favorites Brazil have crashed out of the World Cup after losing 4-2 on penalties to Croatia. Neymar's goal on the stroke of halftime in extra time had seemingly sent the Selecao on to the semfinals in Qatar, but Bruno Petkovic converted with his side's first shot on target of the match to send the match to penalties.

Croatia were faultless with their own efforts whilst Rodrygo saw his shot saved by the outstanding Dominik Livakovic. Needing to score to keep Brazil in the competition, Marquinhos drove his effort against the post, extending his country's wait for a sixth global crown to at least 24 years. As for Croatia, a nation of just four million people, they are into a third semi final in the last six tournaments. They will face the winners of the quarterfinal between Argentina and the Netherlands.

That tie had seemingly been destined for Brazil at the start of this tournament, and even in the early exchanges of this game it looked like being a matter of when, not if, they would claim their prize. Croatia's defensive possession kept them in the contest in the first half but after the interval it was only the superb shot-stopping of Livakovic, coupled with some wayward finishing by Neymar, that stopped Brazil from taking the lead.

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The PSG star seemed to have made amends with a spectacular drive through the heart of the Croatian defense, shrugging off Borna Sosa and rounding Livakovic before lifting the ball into the net, but before long he was in tears. Petkovic's shot deflected wickedly off Marquinhos, whose pain had only just begun, to send Croatia into a shootout that they controlled from the first round onwards.

Livakovic saved Rodrygo's tame effort whilst Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric and Mislav Orsic struck theirs firmly beyond Alisson. Marquinhos hit his with no less authority but sent the ball crashing against the post. The tears flowed among the Brazilians who had allowed themselves to believe. The wait goes on for them. Croatia, meanwhile, will be dreaming of going one better than their berth in the 2018 final. Having eliminated the favorites, who would doubt them now?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:47 pm ET · James Benge]

OFF THE POST - Brazil are out!

Marquinhos hits it so sweetly and right against the frame. Croatia are through!

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:46 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Croatia 4, Brazil 2

No one, not even Alisson, is saving that. He drives it into the side netting. Brazil have to score both of theirs or they are out. It'll be Marquinhos.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:45 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Croatia 3, Brazil 2

The Selecao are still alive as Pedro stutters, waiting for Livakovic to move and sending the ball in the other direction.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:44 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Croatia 3, Brazil 1

Modric, calm as you like, drives the ball into the bottom left. Alisson went the wrong way but I'm not sure he'd have gotten close.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:44 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Croatia 2, Brazil 1

Livakovic goes the right way but Casemiro gives him no chance, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner. There's a grin on his face as he hands the ball over to his old friend Luka Modric.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:43 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Croatia 2, Brazil 0

Majer follows Vlasic's trick, going right down the middle. Alisson tries to lift his leg but can't get to it quickly enough.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:42 pm ET · James Benge]

SAVED - Croatia 1, Brazil 0

Neymar seems to be praying as Rodrygo steps up. No deity intervenes though as the Real Madrid man lifts it up to an easy saving height for Livakovic.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:41 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Croatia 1, Brazil 0

He absolutely wallops that down the middle. 

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:40 pm ET · James Benge]

Let's go

Brazil have won their last three penalty shootouts at the World Cup. Croatia have never lost one in this competition, though I'm not sure how much comfort that'll be for Nikola Vlasic, taking shots at the Brazilian end.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:35 pm ET · James Benge]

Full time

Stunning again from Livakovic, who dives to his left to parry a first time, close range volley that Casemiro had connected quite excellently with. We go to penalties! Unbelievable, how do they keep doing this?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:31 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Petkovic strikes

This game looked over but you simply cannot kill off Croatia. Orsic charges down the flank and cuts one back to the edge of the area. Petkovic swings a boot at it, far from a convincing shot but it deflects off Marquinhos and beyond Alisson's despairing glove. That was their first shot on target.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:28 pm ET · James Benge]

Can Croatia find a way back in?

It really does not look like it with five minutes left to play. Where once Luka Modric and co. were using possession as a defensive weapon now it is the Brazilians who don't look like giving the ball away. Neymar, a man possessed right now, buys them a free kick in the Croatia half. It looks like Brazil are going to grind through this.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:21 pm ET · James Benge]

Here's Neymar's goal

As Croatia chase parity in the second half of extra time here's a chance to see that Neymar goal, for me the best scored at the tournament so far, in full.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:14 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL - Neymar finally delivers

After 105-plus pretty underwhelming minutes by Neymar, what a goal that is! Picking the ball up outside the box he gives and goes with Paqueta, rides Sosic's challenge, rounds Livakovic and lofts it over the diving defender and into the net. He's level with Pele as Brazil's record men's goalscorer. What a way to do it!

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:10 pm ET · James Benge]

Croatia getting their chances

You've had the sense for a while that Croatia were happy to stick 10 men behind the ball in pursuit of penalties. They probably are but in these last few minutes they've had their half chances, a brilliant bit of skill by Petkovic down the left flank allowing him to drive towards the box and tee up Brozovic, who is leaning back as he lofts a shot over the bar.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:02 pm ET · James Benge]

We're underway once more

There's barely even time to answer your doorbell for the Amazon man -- I know. It's just happened -- before the ball is rolling again in extra time. Lucas Paqueta is the first to start struggling with some form of knock. Brazil have had to do more work than normal off the ball, will that start to affect them?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 12:00 pm ET · James Benge]

Full time - Another extra time

That's perfectly welcome news for Croatia but will Brazilian nerves get the better of them?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 11:44 am ET · James Benge]

Time is running out

The chances are coming Brazil's way still but they're having to hit them through a mountain of Croatian bodies. When the ball drops to Eder Militao you're more than happy to give up the shot if you're Gvardiol, the right back spooning a shot wide.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 11:33 am ET · James Benge]

If Neymar weren't Neymar...

... would he still be on the pitch right now? Make no mistake the No.10, chasing the goal that would draw him equal with Pele as Brazil's record goalscorer, has had his moment's but he seems to be fading as this game wears on. Vinicius Junior was a tyro in this game, why isn't he on? And why is Antony, whose first meaningful contribution was a really dreadful dive that even he didn't seem committed to.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 11:24 am ET · James Benge]

Brozovic on a tightrope?

The Inter Milan midfielder has already been booked and for a moment you wonder if the second foul since that yellow card might tempt Michael Oliver to dig out his cards again. He does not and replays suggest it would be harsh to do so. He probably does not have more than one light foul in him though.

Meanwhile Livakovic saves really well when a ball breaks to Paqueta in the box, making himself big enough to block a close range flick.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 11:13 am ET · James Benge]

Big save from Livakovic

The pressure is really starting to build on Croatia and it's Neymar who gets a really big chance after excellent hold up play, a smart turn and a through ball to his No.10. Sliding to the ground, the PSG forward can't quite get a good shot away and Livakovic saves with his legs. They might be on top but Tite seems keen to improve his attack and so the rather ineffectual Raphinha makes way for Antony.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 11:07 am ET · James Benge]

We go again... and we nearly have a penalty

And immediately it is remorseless Brazilian pressure, Vinicius driving in from the left and teeing up Neymar, who could have done much better than spoon his shot towards Livakovic. Croatia eventually clear with some nerves but there's a delay in play for a VAR check after a looping ball into the box clipped Juranovic's arm. One that was worth looking at but it would have been very harsh if that had been given against the Celtic man.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:59 am ET · James Benge]

Game recognises game

A lovely moment at half time as former Real Madrid team mates Luka Modric and Casemiro swap shirts at half time. Let's the Croatian and Brazilian kit men have a few spare floating around.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:56 am ET · James Benge]

The big moment of the first half

Did Danilo get away with one here? Personal view, that is quite possibly a red card.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:47 am ET · James Benge]

Half time

This hasn't been the barnburner of a quarterfinal that we might have expected. Frankly it's been a bit tedious and more power to Croatia for playing that way. As this half has worn on they've put Brazil in a sleeper hold and showed no sign of letting go. If you've held the favorites to five shots and are shading the xG battle by 0.4 to 0.33, then you are doing something very well indeed.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:37 am ET · James Benge]

A word on Danilo

Credit to Croatia, who really are dominating possession at the moment to quell the Brazilian threat. It's quite surprising to check our statistics and see that they are at just 42 percent ball possession at the moment but when the team in red and white have the ball they hold it for a while. Those of us who thought this would be done and dusted in quite convincing fashion are eating our words but Croatia's cautious control is not making for thrilling viewing.

In the mean time let's take a look at what Brazil are doing on the rare occasions they do have the ball. Here's the touch map of nominal left back Danilo, whose drifts infield are really allowing Brazil to control midfield and claim any clearances that come their way. Equally it offers some insight into why Juranovic is getting so many opportunities to dart away down the Croatian right.

Danilo's touch map through 35 minutes of Croatia vs. Brazil Twenty3

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:25 am ET · James Benge]

Has Danilo gotten away with one there?

Danilo and Juranovic are hurtling down the flank, chasing a ball. The former gets there first with an incredibly high boot, one that connects with Juranovic's head after getting the ball. Michael Oliver says that it's a yellow, I'm not sure Danilo could have had any complaints if that card had been a little darker.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:22 am ET · James Benge]

A bit better from Croatia... for a while

Just for a few moments there we had Croatia asking questions of Brazil down that left flank, a few flashed crosses, half darts and one shot by Perisic but without a real focal presence in attack it all rather adds up to not that much, even when the Selecao are a little off color. Tite's side soon up the intensity and a few minutes later they're right back on top, the deadly Vinicius and Neymar twice going close with good shots.

That's maybe the difference between these two teams, when Brazil have good moments they can get good shots. Can Croatia? It doesn't look like it.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:11 am ET · James Benge]

Bright start from Brazil

They have only had one shot on Livakovic's goal so far, a comfortably held sighter from Vinicius, but there's plenty of joy coming Brazil's way, especially down that left flank where they are looking for the quick switch out to the Real Madrid man. Juranovic is really struggling there and will surely need help from at least one of Pasalic and Modric. Meanwhile when Croatia do manage to repel the initial pressure it is so often Casemiro first to the loose ball, just heightening the pressure on the opposition backline.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 10:02 am ET · James Benge]

Kick off

Away we go! After stealing possession soon after the kick off, Brazil are soon into their passing moves, keeping the ball safe and sound in deep areas. It is really noticeable how centrally Danilo moves in possession, functioning as an extra midfielder alongside Casemiro rather than the orthodox left back you might expect.