Highlights Croatia vs Brazil: Croatia snatch victory from jaws of defeat, knock Brazil out of World Cup | Football news

NEW DELHI: the pre-tournament favourites Brazil have been deleted since fifa world cup also in the quarter-finals, their fourth round of 16 exit in the last five editions, as Croatia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to reach the semi-finals in Qatar. Croatia beat the five-time holders 4-2 on penalties after extra time had drawn 1-1 at the Education City Stadium.
After 90 goalless minutes, Neymar gave Brazil the lead with a clinical finish in added time to the first half of extra time. But replace Bruno Petkovic he took the match to a penalty shoot-out by scoring an equalizer for Croatia in the 117th minute.
Goalkeeper of Croatia Dominik Livakovic became the hero of the Croatian team again, making a save RodrygoIt’s the first penalty to give his team the lead on penalties. Marquinhos, Brazil’s fourth penalty taker, then hit the post to give Croatia a 4-2 shoot-out victory.
The 2018 runners-up will face the winners of the second quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands for a place in the final.

In an evening full of tension and drama, Brazilian superstar Neymar thought he had won the match when he put in a goal in extra time for the five-time world champions.
Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic’s left-footed equalizer with three minutes left in extra time leveled his side, breaking the hearts of the Brazilians in Doha’s Education City Stadium.
The Croatians kept their cool from the penalty spot while Brazilians Marquinhos and Rodrygo failed to convert.
Croatia initially refused to be intimidated by their more illustrious opponents and successfully stifled most of Brazil’s moves early in the first half.

Brazil’s players sit on the pitch after their penalty shoot-out defeat by Croatia. (AP Photo)
Apart from a weak shot from Vinicius Jr., Brazil had little else to offer in the way of attack with Neymar off the pace and blocked by a hardworking backline.
It was Croatia who looked sharper, more passable and with an accurate game plan, and by the end of the first half they had the upper hand in terms of ball possession.
A free-kick from Neymar just before the break did not worry Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, as the Brazilians, whose last victory over a European opponent in the knockout stage came in a 2002 final victory over Germany, they struggled to find space.
Three minutes after the restart, however, they nearly took the lead when Josko Gvardiol tried to clear the ball but nearly converted it into an own goal.

Seconds later, defender Josip Juranovic’s handball claims were dismissed following a VAR review before Neymar was sent off by Richarlison in the 55th minute only to have his close-range strike blocked by Livakovic.
The Brazilians, who have now lost four of their last five World Cup quarter-finals all to European opponents, made a much better start to the second half and came close in the 66th minute when Lucas Paqueta was denied by Livakovic.
The Croatia goalkeeper was kept busy and stopped Neymar in the 76th minute and at that point he made more saves in the match (seven) than his Brazilian counterpart, Alisson, in the entire tournament (five).
Livakovic saved another shot from Paqueta five minutes later as the few hundred Brazilian fans in the stands grew louder and more impatient and the match went into extra time with Brazil manager Tite visibly nervous.
In first-half stoppage time, the hitherto largely lackluster Neymar launched an attack outside the box, played back-to-back one-twos to cheat the tired Croatian defense and then rounded the goalkeeper to equalize Brazil big Pelerecord 77 international goals.
But the Croatians refused to give up with Petkovic equalizing forcing penalties and prevailing in the shoot-out with Livakovic saving Rodrygo’s spot kick and Marquinos hitting the post.
(With contributions from agencies)