World Cup 2022 – Brazil fails again against a European team

Brazil lost to Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup – the dream of a sixth title is over prematurely. Once again, a European team played destiny for the “Selecao”.

Déjà-vu for Brazil: For the record world champion and five-time title holder, the “sixth star” mission came to an early end at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The players around superstar Neymar let their tears run free after the loss against Croatia. The football-mad country is once again in collective mourning.

Neymar can’t believe the World Cup

“I can’t believe what happened“, the disappointed and frustrated Neymar quarreled after the thriller against the south-eastern Europeans (1: 1, 2: 4 on penalties). “The bewitched generation is left empty-handed“, wrote the newspaper “Newspaper“, while “State of Mines” judged: “The dream of the Hexa (the sixth world title, editor’s note) is over.”

Once again it was a European team, Croatia, that shattered the dream. Neymar (105th minute) put the “Selecao” in the lead, but Bruno Petkovic (117th) equalized. It was the Croatians’ first shot at goal in the whole game. They then had better nerves than the Brazilians in the penalty shoot-out.

“Europe Curse” since 2002

The “European curse” continues for Brazil’s national team. Since winning the title at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea (2-0 against Germany), the “Selecao” have failed in all subsequent tournaments in the knockout stages against European teams.

At the 2006 tournament in Germany, the then defending champions around Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos came to an end in the quarter-finals. France won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Thierry Henry, Brazil had to return home early.

Sneijder brace shocks Brazil 2010

In South Africa 2010, the “Selecao” prevailed in their group in front of Portugal without shining. With a 3-0 win over Chile in the round of 16, Brazil looked set to pick up speed – but they went out again in the last eight. In a high-quality game, Robinho gave the South Americans an early lead against the Netherlands, but Elftal turned the game around thanks to a brace from Wesley Sneijder and won 2-1.

Memorable debacle against Germany

By 2014 at the latest, the whole of Brazil was expecting the sixth star. And the framework was set with the home World Cup. At the time, the whole country was looking forward to the tournament and the title. Ultimately, the pressure was so high that it culminated in a collective collapse in what was probably the most memorable World Cup game of all time – the 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals.

Unforgettable are the images of paralyzed and tearful fans in yellow and green clothing. A shock for the whole country. It took years to recover from this.

Finally, in Russia 2018, Brazil played effectively but without enthusiasm in the group stage and round of 16. Nevertheless, the South Americans went into the quarter-finals against Belgium as favorites – and failed again. A Fernandinho own goal and a Kevin De Bruyne goal gave the Red Devils a 2-0 lead early on, but the Brazilians only managed a second goal through Renato Augusto with 12 minutes remaining. Once again the dream had burst prematurely.

“A Punch to the Soul”

As in 2022 in Qatar – a déjà vu for Brazil. “A blow to the soul. The film, which has been running since 2006, repeats itself again”, wrote “Folha de Sao Paulo”, while “Correio Braziliense” simply stated: “The dream of the hexa ended at the post. The curse against Europeans continues.”