Another day, another Croatia win due to a penalty shootout. The 2018 FIFA World Cup finalists are trying to repeat by having a flair for the dramatic, defeating Brazil in penalties to advance to the FIFA World Cup semis.
The match was scoreless for the first 106 minutes, but Neymar broke the deadlock with a nifty finish from an incredibly tough angle. Credit Neymar for not going down and seeking a penalty because he could have. Instead, he stayed upright and was rewarded.
🙌 ¡FINALMENTE SE ROMPIÓ EL CERO!
🇧🇷 G⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️L DE BRASIL 🇧🇷
💪 Neymar pone a soñar a toda una nación ✨#HRV 0-1 #BRA #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #HRVvsBRA pic.twitter.com/H4Kti2wYVj
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 9, 2022
For the final 15 or so minutes, Brazil seemed to take their foot off the gas, and that’s when Croatia pounced. On the counterattack, Croatia’s Mislav Oršić placed a perfect pass to the left foot of Bruno Petković for the equalizer in the 117th minute.
👀 ¡CROACIA NO QUIERE DARSE POR VENCIDO!
🇭🇷 G⚽️⚽️⚽️L de Croacia 🇭🇷
🔥 Petkovic pone entre las cuerdas a Brasil 🇧🇷 #HRV 1-1 #BRA #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #HRVvsBRA pic.twitter.com/KXc9KDKUHU
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 9, 2022
In penalties, things got serious. And even though Croatia faced one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Alisson, Croatia has Dominik Livaković, who is undoubtedly proving that he deserves to be in the conversation with the Alisson’s of the world in terms of best goalkeeper.
Livaković saved three penalties in Croatia’s round of 16 match against Japan, and he picked up right where he left off by saving the first Brazil penalty.
The save on Rodrygo was Livaković’s fourth penalty save, which ties a record for a single World Cup. Croatia’s penalty takers also did their part, outfoxing Alisson and just placing the ball out of reach of the Liverpool keeper.
Brazil was always a goal behind but kept up after the first shot. Then Marquinhos stepped up, and hit the post, sealing the win for Croatia before Neymar even got a chance to take a shot.
👋 ¡Brasil se despide de la @FIFAWorldCup!
😓 Marquinhos lo fallaba y #HRV lo festeja 😮💨#MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #HRVvsBRA pic.twitter.com/KrGiZ8kP72
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 9, 2022
It was an excellent finish that got the soccer world buzzing. Croatia will face either Argentina or the Netherlands in the semifinal. England–France and Morocco–Portugal will play on Saturday.
SCENES
Croatia fans absolutely lost it after clinching a spot in the semifinals 🎉🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/u0anRp6Of3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/nate_bukaty/status/1601273099688677377?s=20&t=8vOerRb0IsWvsdrwN2NlaA
Three teams have advanced on penalties twice at the same World Cup.
Two of them are Croatia.
🇭🇷 2022 Croatia
🇭🇷 2018 Croatia
🇦🇷 1990 ArgentinaThe previous two both finished runner-up.
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) December 9, 2022
Croatia about to trash-heap this Brazil-Argentina semi the whole world wants #WorldCup2022
— Phil West ⚽ (@philwest) December 9, 2022
Brazil fans right now…#F1 #Motorsport #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/4sOWSsG3Ok
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) December 9, 2022
Wow. This game. So happy for Croatia. So sad for Brazil. 🤯🤯#WorldCup
— Robbie Mustoe (@robbiemustoe) December 9, 2022
This. World. Cup. Is. Incredible! Huge respect to Croatia on a complete team performance. #WorldcupQatar2022
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) December 9, 2022
#WorldCup #Qatar2022 #CROBRA pic.twitter.com/e5ammtFcKW
— SimpsonsEFL (@EflSimpsons) December 9, 2022
