Croatia beats Brazil on penalties in World Cup quarterfinals

On Dec 9, 2022

Croatia has knocked Brazil out of the World Cup by on penalties at the quarter-final stage.

The biggest moment of the first half came when Josko Gvardiol blocked a shot on the penalty spot to deny Vinicius Junior.

Dominic Livakovic was the star of the start of the second half, blocking a Richarlison shot just after the break. He then saved with his feet after Richarlison played through Neymar.

The Croatia goalkeeper’s impressive performance did not end there when he smothered a shot from Lucas Paqueta.

Livakovic then saved again from Neymar and Paqueta.

When the game went into extra-time, though, Neymar and his Brazil team-mates seemed to have concocted a wonder goal to send them through to the final four of the competition. But then Bruno Petkovic levelled the game to send it to penalties.

And Croatia overcame Brazil in the shootout to go through to the semi-finals. Neymar, who was Brazil’s final penalty taker, did not even take a spot-kick as it did not get far enough for him to take one, with Croatia scoring all four of theirs they took and Rodrygo and Marquinhos missing.

World Cup quarterfinals