At Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Doha, there was a mix of emotions as tournament favorites Brazil were eliminated on penalties by Croatia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Friday.
2018 finalists Croatia beat five-time champions Brazil 4-2 in a penalty shootout as the stadium became a stage of agony and ecstasy.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty attempt by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post.
Neymar had scored late in the first half of extra time to give Brazil the lead, but Croatia equalised when Bruno Petkovic scored in the 117th.
And Croatia then stunned their South American opponents to win 4-2 on penalties as the shock victories continue to happen in Qatar.
Rodrygo and Marquinhos went on to miss from 12 yards out as the pre-tournament favourites crashed out in the quarter-finals.
BRAZIL HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE WORLD CUP 😲 pic.twitter.com/pC6RnNiMnW
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 9, 2022
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Few would have expected Brazil to have exited after Neymar fired his side into a deserving lead. Neymar’s goal moved him into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals.
Brazil have now failed to beat a European nation in a knockout round since they won the World Cup in 2002.
As for Croatia, they have now reached the last four in back-to-back tournaments after they were losing finalists to France in 2018.
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