To be a six-time champion, it was necessary not to be eliminated for the sixth time in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Cup And the 2022 team failed to break this taboo. At the Education City stadium in the capital Doha, most of the 44,000 fans wore yellow. Even though not all of them were Brazilians, the preference was for Brazil to return to a Cup semifinal after eight years. But fans don’t win games.
A goal at the very end of extra time that took the match to penalties.
Petkovic, one of the Croatian heroes! ??
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_pt) December 9, 2022
In the first half, the team lost a lot of time studying the opponent. So much so that, only in the 20th minute, in an individual move by Neymar, did Brazil bother the Croatian defense. The kick, however, came out weak and in the middle of the goal. The slowness characterized the initial 45 minutes and the good marking in the middle made it difficult for the Selection to infiltrate. To make matters worse, the Croatians were quick on the counterattack, always trying to cross Perisic.
In the 41st minute, Neymar took a free-kick with a curve and, again, goalkeeper Livakovic fit in without any problems. It was too little.
Thus, as if it were a game of chess, the irritating 0-0 tie was maintained until the end of the 1st half, without anyone having a clear scoring opportunity and, the most worrying thing for Brazil, without the winger Raphinha managed to appear in the match. In five games in this Cup, it was the fourth time that the scoreboard remained blank during the opening 45 minutes. The words of Tite and Zlatko Dalic in the changing rooms would be decisive in defining the winner.
After the break, two minutes into the 2nd half, Richarlison, in the small area, completed a low cross and goalkeeper Livakovic took it with his foot. At 9 minutes, again, Livakovic prevents a goal from Neymar with his right foot. And, as expected, Tite removed the dead Raphinha and placed Antony; replaced Vinícius Júnior with Rodrygo; and traded Richarlison for Pedro.
In the 20th minute, another wasted chance: Paquetá fought for the ball inside the area and Livakovic put it in the corner. In the 34th minute, it was Paquetá who shot low and Livakovic fit in firmly. Brazil were not inspired, but the changes improved the team, although not in the way Tite imagined. That is, everything facilitated the Croatian marking, especially the absence of kicks from outside the area of the Selection. On the other hand, it was visible that the Europeans were pushing the match into overtime.
Croatia’s goal was achieved. Another half hour of play (something commonplace for Zlatko Dalic’s team, who also faced extra time and penalties against Japan in the round of 16) and the match continued with the Brazilian attack line hitting the Croatian wall. Until, at 15 minutes of the 1st half of extra time, Neymar made a match with Paquetá, received it in front, dribbled Livakovic and kicked it high. It was Brazil’s goal! 1 to 0!
In the 2nd period of extra time, Croatia was in possession of the ball. After all, his players needed to attack for the first time in the entire game. And it wasn’t difficult for the runner-up to tie the match. In just 11 minutes they reached the goal: a low cross from the left, Petkovic kicked it, the ball deflected off Marquinhos and took Alisson’s chances of defense: 1-1.
Tite even made a mistake in the order of the penalties. Neymar, the best taker, was placed to take only the fifth shot and ended up not being used… Vlasic, Majer, Modric and Orsic scored four goals. Brazil immediately wasted the first kick, with Rodrygo kicking in the hands of Livakovic. Casemiro and Pedro still scored their goals. Marquinhos hit the bar very badly, hitting the crossbar. Croatia managed to do what they always did: they eliminated another team on penalties. In 2018, they beat Denmark and Russia in this way. In 2022, it left behind Japan and Brazil. The hexa did not come, but the sixth elimination in the quarterfinals was consummated, as well as in 1954, 1986, 2006, 2010, 2018.
On penalties, Croatia won 4-2, goals from Vlasic, Majer, Modric and Orsi, against one by Casemiro and another by Pedro. Rodrygo and Marquinhos wasted their kicks
Datasheet:
BRAZIL 1 x 1 CROATIA
Location: Doha (Qatar)
Judge: Michael Oliver (England)
Audience: 43,893
Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Éder Militão (Alex Sandro); Casemiro, Lucas Paquetá (Fred) and Neymar; Richarlison (Pedro), Raphinha (Antony) and Vinícius Júnior (Rodrygo). T: Tite.
Croatia: Livakovic, Lovren, Sosa (Budimir), Gvardiol and Juranovic; Kovacic (Majer), Modric and Brozovic (Orsic); Perisic, Kramaric (Petkovic) and Pasalic (Vlasic). T: Zlatko Dalic.
Goals: In extra time: In the 1st half: Neymar (15). In the 2nd half: Petkovic (11).
Penalty shootout: Vlasic, Majer, Modric and Orsi scored for Croatia. Casemiro and Pedro converted for Brazil; and Rodrygo and Marquinhos wasted their kicks.
