Croatia defeats Brazil on penalties and will be in the semifinals

Many of the favorites are already missing, but the quarterfinals got underway with a high-profile duel between the current runner-up and the five-star holder. Big words. The win against Korea ‘forced’ Tite to repeat the eleven of the round of 16, a team that gave away what was surely the best first half of the entire tournament. How to change it. Once again he showed himself with Neymar as the banner, the speed of Vinicius and Raphinha on the flanks and Richarlison’s instinct at the point of attack. Croatia, meanwhile, appeared on the pitch with Pasalic. Prize for the man who scored the final goal in the penalty shootout of the previous round.

There was a certain feeling of returning to the scene of the crime with the visit to Education City, the place where Luis Enrique’s project with the Spanish team languished in a penalty shootout that is already black history in the country. Yellow replaced red in a stand with an overwhelming dominance of the Brazilian fans. Kaká says that Ronaldo in Brazil is nothing more than a fat man walking down the street and that Neymar is not respected because of his political ideas. But in Doha there is no such disdain. Only the fervor and illusion of a noisy and tireless fans.

Brazil had just come from a festival, but he soon realized that this time virtuosity alone was not going to do. He had to get to work, at least, as much as the Croats. The combinations of Neymar and Vinicius, so fluid against Korea, collided this time with a granite defense with a fierce face. Both put Livakovic to the test for the first time, but with shots so meek and far away that they hardly disturbed the hero of the shootout against Japan. He served to test, yes, that the Croatian goalkeeper has arrived in Qatar blessed.

Croatia, it was evident, had much more to offer. She came as a victim, but it is in her genes to fight. Without fear, she did not hesitate to also go forward in search of her opportunity. The first came from Pasalic, who with everything going for him kicked into the air after a precise cross from Juranovic’s right.

The fight was fought in the center of the field, and there Modric prevailed. He is always on the spot, always on the move, setting the tone for his teammates. He lost Brazil in possession, although it was not what worried them the most. The problem is that they were unable to counterattack. Croatia was gaining weight and presence in the rival field as Brazilian discomfort increased. Paquetá, destined to supply the attacking men with balls, barely smelled it. And Casemiro could not cope. The change in the ‘canarinha’ compared to the previous game was radical. It is true that Croatia was not disturbing either, but they had decided to avoid problems by taking the ball from their rival. A different bet.

Something changed after the break, still with the same protagonists on the pitch. Almost on the first play, Croatia was left breathless by a clearance by Gvardiol that did not end in an own goal thanks to the miraculous intervention of Livakovic’s foot. From then on, Croatia lost ground and Brazil’s best minutes came. Vinicius and Neymar put Livakovic to the test again, this time with more intention. But once again the Croatian goalkeeper showed off. In an attempt to surprise, Tite brought on Rodrygo and Antony instead of Vinicius and Raphinha.

Dalic also moved the bench, giving freshness to his attack with Vlasic and Petkovic. It was clear that from then on he had to resist. Before the end there were several more from Livakovic. Again before a point-blank shot from Neymar, and again before Paqueta.

With the extra time, the duel reached the territory where Croatia could feel more comfortable. Clinging to her warrior spirit and Modric’s mournful gesture, who despite everything kept running like a deer. Theirs was, in fact, the first opportunity. A quick counterattack led by Petkovic that ended with a high shot from Brozovic. On the next play came the genius of Neymar, who went down to the center of the field to receive and from there began a fast run in which he faced the goal after two triangulations. First with Rodrygo and after Paquetá.

With everything going for them, Brazil were unable to hold on to the result and allowed one last counterattack that culminated in Petkovic’s equalizing goal. Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed in the shootout, and Croatia repeats the script from four years ago, when they beat Denmark in the round of 16 and Russia in the quarterfinals, also on penalties. So his epic went all the way to the final.