Croatia Eliminates Five-Time Champion From The Penalty Spot

Some stood with hands on hips. Other could not believe it. Neymar crumpled to the floor in tears. Brazil was out of the World Cup and its players could not come to terms with it, once again beaten in the last eight by European opposition. Luka Modric outclassed and outwitted the five-time world champion. Joško Gvardiol and Dominik Livakovic were brilliant as well. Brazil’s grandiose 105th-minute goal had not been enough. Extra-time specialist, Croatia rallied and did not miss from the penalty spot. Croatia demonstrated yet again that it’s a proper tournament team.

In the 105th minute Neymar, with the help of Rodrygo and Lucas Paqueta had weaved his way through the Croatian defense and produced an extraordinary finish, straining every sinew to hold off Sosa and round the keeper Dominik Livakovic in the first half of extra time. Cue pandemonium at the Education City Stadium. It should have been the end of a dramatic quarter-final, but Croatia never gave up. And once Bruno Petkovic equalized the momentum shifted. Brazil’s players looked worried ahead of the penalty shootout.

Tite and Brazil will be traumatized. The five-time world champion has not won a knockout match at the World Cup against European opposition since 2002. Four years ago, Brazil’s campaign ended against Belgium in the last eight. Croatia was always going to be a dangerous opponent. Croatia was too good to capitulate the way South Korea had done in the last sixteen.

From the onset this quarter-final was a scrappy encounter: Croatia was organised enough and relied on the brilliant Modric, at 37 still dominant in the midfield, to take on Brazil, who failed to ignite in the first half. The South Americans probed and poked but without much success. There was a crackle in the air whenever Neymar or Vinicius Jr accelerated on the left channel. The pair ran at defenders but failed to make an early statement.

Brazil had the ball but Croatia controlled the game, even with no shots on target before half-time. Zlatko Dalic’s team was perfect in its tactical positioning and closed down the spaces well. Modric dropped deep to orchestrate play. In turn, Brazil was nervous and didn’t know what to do with the ball. Out of possession, Brazil was fragile at the back with Croatia targeting Brazil’s full-backs Eder Militao and Danilo. Vinicus Jr left too much space in behind his back and with Danilo on a yellow in the 25th minute, he was vulnerable. Casemiro had to come across to cover for Danilo, leaving Modric free to roam around.

Too often Casemiro lost possession. The front players were peripheral: Vinicius showed bursts of energy early on and Neymar tried to create danger, but too often they were isolated in a Brazil side that played too slowly. Richarlison and Raphinha were not involved. In front of the bal, Brazil’s forwards didn’t move enough. Did Brazil underestimate Croatia, 2018 runner-up? Perhaps then those comparisons with the great sides of 1970, the end of Brazil’s golden epoch, and 1982, the last team the Seleçao truly played the beautiful game, after the round of sixteen had come all too soon.

As the players emerged from the dressing room for the second half, this began to feel like a true test for Brazil. Richarlison and Casemiro looked tense, but Tite ordered his players to up the tempo. And so they did. Selfishly, Neymar however didn’t produce a killer pass for Vinicius Junior. Minutes later, Neymar should have done better unmarked in the box.

But Tite was not shy to mix it up, introducing Anthony. Brazil badly needed some thrust down the right flank following a muted display from Raphinha. On the left, Rodrygo replaced Vinicius Jr. Perhaps the second substitution was less straightforward with Vinicius Jr’s explosivity always an asset. It was not a logic choice. Tite was protecting Neymar.

Brazil barely pinned Croatia back into their own half, but Dalic’s XI maintained their composure and cool. When Brazil did find a way through the wall of distinctive red-and-white checkerboard tops, Livaković prevented a goal with his fine goalkeeping. Croatia’s defending was superb.

And so the match went into extra time, Brazil’s was facing its nightmare, playing against a very technical European side that was comfortable with the ball and wouldn’t allow Brazil to take control. Besides, Croatia was an extra-time specialist, seven of its last eight knockout matches at major tournaments required prolongations. And then when Marquinhos slammed his penalty off the base of the left-hand post, Brazil and its many fans fell silent. Europe had once again proven too strong.