Croatia have pulled off another sensation at a shock-laden World Cup, battling past tournament favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals after a dramatic late comeback in extra-time and then a penalty shoot-out.
The 2018 finalists defied the odds once again, winning 4-2 on penalties on Friday to reach the semi-finals after the match had finished 1-1 over 120 minutes.
Croatia came through their second consecutive shoot-out after also beating Japan on penalties in the last-16 and they’ll now face either the Netherlands or Argentina who play each other later on Friday.
In an evening filled with tension and drama, Brazil superstar Neymar thought he had won the game when he rifled in an extra-time goal for the five-time world champions.
But Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic’s left-footed equaliser three minutes from the end of extra-time drew his side level, breaking Brazilian hearts in Doha’s Education City Stadium.
The Croats kept their composure from the penalty spot but Brazil’s Rodrygo had his penalty saved by goalkeeping hero Dominik Livakovic, who’d also been brilliant over the previous two hours, before Marquinhos could only hit the post.
Croatia had initially refused to be intimidated by their more illustrious opponents and in the first half successfully stifled most Brazil moves early.
Apart from a weak Vinicius Jr. shot, Brazil had little else to offer in terms of attack with Neymar off the pace and shut out by a hard-working backline.
It was Croatia who looked sharper, more skilled in their passing game and with a precise game plan, and by the end of the first half they had the upper hand in terms of possession.
It was a different story after the break when, first, Josko Gvardiol tried to clear the ball but almost turned it into his own goal.
Seconds later, claims for a hand ball by defender Josip Juranovic were shot down following a VAR review before Neymar was sent through by Richarlison in the 55th minute only to have his close-range effort blocked by Livakovic.
The Brazilians, who have now lost four of their last five World Cup quarter-finals all to European opposition, came close again in the 66th when Lucas Paqueta was denied by Livakovic.
The Croatia keeper also stopped Neymar in the 76th and by that time had more saves in the match – seven- than his Brazil counterpart, Alisson, had in the entire tournament (five).
In stoppage time of the first period of extra time, Neymar, largely lacklustre until then, launched an attack outside the box, played two consecutive one-twos to bamboozle the tired Croatian defence and then rounded the keeper to equal Brazil great Pele’s record of 77 international goals.
But the Croats refused to surrender with Petkovic’s equaliser forcing penalties and coming out on top in the shootout with Livakovic the toast of this remarkable little footballing nation.
