Neymar Equals Pele's Record As Brazil Crash Out

Five-time world champions Brazil have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup after losing on penalties to Croatia on Friday evening.

Selecao coach Tite named the same starting line-up from the win over Korea Republic, but the Croats brought in Borna Sosa and Mario Pasalic after their penalty shoot-out win over Japan.

Croatia were presented the bright start after the opening ten minutes where a fast-paced run out wide by Josip Juranovic resulted in a low ball which Ivan Perisic latched on and arrowed wide. Although, Brazil started to find their feet and smart combination passes between Neymar Junior and Vinicius Junior carved open the Vatreni and had a rasping shot by the former blocked.

The Selecao launched a decent opening five minutes ahead of halftime as a curling free-kick from a tight angle by Neymar deflected into the arms of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Livakovic produced the first save of the match nine minutes from the break when he parried a teasing shot from close-range by Neymar as the latter charged onto a loose pass.

Another blinder of a stop from Livakovic came midway in the second half as the goalkeeper guided a first-time dink by Lucas Paqueta away for a corner.

The Selecao kept pinning the Vatreni back in their own half and in-turn worked out attempts for Rodrygo, Richarlison and Neymar, as the match went to extra-time.

Brazil continued to probe late in the first half of extra-time and broke through after Neymar played a one-two outside the area and burst through to rattle the roof of the net, bringing up his 77th goal for the country to move level with Pele.

However, Croatia rallied back and levelled three minutes before the end when Bruno Petkovic’s rasping shot on the edge of the area following a cutback found the bottom-corner.

The Selecao could’ve regained the lead in the last minutes from a loose ball in the area following a free-kick, but Livakovic denied Carlos Casemiro and a penalty shoot-out followed.

As Rodrygo had the Selecao’s first spot-kick saved by Livakovic, Marquinhos hit the upright as the Croats converted four of their spot-kicks and advanced to the semi-finals for a second straight tournament.