Croatia Stuns Brazil in Penalty-Kick Shootout to Advance to World Cup Semifinals

Utilizing the same extra-time blueprint that fueled its incredible run to the 2018 final, Croatia stunned Brazil in a penalty-kick shootout to clinch a spot in the World Cup semifinals.

In 2018, Croatia also needed a shootout in the round of 16 and quarterfinals to advance to the final four; now, it’ll face Argentina, another penalty-kick survivor, on Tuesday after eliminating a Brazilian side widely picked to win the title.

After a scoreless 90 minutes, Croatia embarked on its fifth extra-time match in its last six World Cup knockout games dating back to 2018. Despite an incredible goal from Neymar in stoppage time of the first extra-time period, which saw the PSG star tie Pelé’s all-time men’s national team scoring record, Croatia bounced back in the 117th minute behind a goal from Bruno Petković to tie the score at 1–1. 

Following his three-save performance in a penalty-kick shootout against Japan in the round of 16, goalkeeper Dominik Livaković played the hero once again for Croatia with 11 saves throughout the quarterfinal clash and made a massive stop on Brazil’s first penalty to see Croatia through. 

From there, Croatia made all four of its penalties while Rodrygo saw his chance saved and Marquinhos struck the post on Brazil’s final chance to kick off Croatia’s celebration. 

Brazil entered on the heels of a sensational 4–1 win over South Korea in which it led 4–0 after 36 minutes, putting on one of the most dazzling performances in the competition. Croatia’s road was significantly tougher, with the side being pushed to the limit by Japan after a 1–1 draw through extra time. 

Brazil kicked off the match with the first shot on target in the fifth minute when Vinícius Júnior sent a curling chance from the edge of the penalty area, but it was a routine stop as Livaković caught the chance with ease.

But Croatia had the first dangerous chance in the 13th minute when Josip Juranović bolted down the right and found Mario Pašalić, who sent a sharp bouncing cross into the area for Ivan Perišić. But the Spurs winger couldn’t get a proper touch on the ball and it rolled through. 

Brazil answered back with a quality chance in the 20th minute when Vinícius saw his shot off a one-two inside the box blocked right in front of goal. Moments later, Neymar sent a curling shot that was collected by Livaković.

Danilo was given a yellow card for his dangerous, flying challenge on Juranović, who continued to give Brazil problems. 

In the 42nd minute, Brazil was given a free kick from a dangerous position right at the edge of the box. Neymar’s shot tipped the top of the wall, but Livaković was able to adjust to the deflection and made the save.

Brazil flew out of the halftime gates looking for the lead and nearly came close in the 47th minute when Livaković made a quick save on a redirected cross that deflected off Joško Gvardiol. Just after, Gvardiol was in the middle of the action once again, blocking a shot from Neymar that looked promising if it had made its way through the defense. 

Neymar was played in on goal by a Richarlison through ball in the 55th minute, but the PSG star couldn’t manage a strong enough shot as Livaković kicked the chance wide.

After a scramble in the box, Lucas Paquetá had an open chance on goal with just the keeper to beat, but the shot was deftly saved by Livaković to keep the score tied at 0–0. 

In the 76th minute, Neymar was sent in on goal but his shot from a sharp angle was saved once again by Livaković as he slid and barely saved the chance with his knee.

Paquetá had another chance three minutes later when he received a cross from second-half substitute Rodrygo, but the West Ham midfielder’s shot went right at Livaković.

In the final minute of regular time, Livaković made his ninth save of the match on a weak Antony shot before the match headed to extra time. 

Rodrygo sent a dangerous cross into the box in the 99th minute that was aimed at Paquetá, but the ball landed just ahead of his diagonal run. 

In the 102nd minute, Bruno Petković created Croatia’s most dangerous chance of the match on the left wing when he split two defenders with marvelous footwork and then set up Marcelo Brozović for an open shot that the Inter Milan midfielder skied over the bar. 

In the 106th minute, Neymar etched his name in Brazil (and World Cup history) with an incredible goal that saw him tie Pelé’s men’s goalscoring record of 77 official goals for Brazil. Neymar took a quick pass from Paquetá inside the box, somehow maneuvered his way around a defender and then the keeper before hitting a shot into the top of the goal for a 1–0 lead. 

But as Brazil tried to run out the game, Petković secured the equalizer on a counterattack in the 117th minute. Oršić streaked down the left wing and picked out a trailing Petković, whose strike deflected off Marquinhos and in to make it 1–1 before the match went to a penalty-kick shootout.

Nikola Vlašić started the shootout with a shot right down the middle to give Croatia the early advantage.

Rodrygo then stepped to the spot for Brazil and saw his shot to the right saved by Livaković.

Croatia took a 2–0 penalty lead when Lovro Majer scored right after.

But Casemiro gave Brazil a chance by converting his shot to cut the Croatian advantage to 2–1.

Luka Modrić executed a perfect penalty by sending Alisson the wrong way and burying his chance in the opposite corner.

Pedro cut the Croatian lead to 3–2 with his slow run-up that allowed him to see Livaković dive the other way.

Oršić just beat Alisson with a low shot in the bottom left corner to make it 4–2 and put the pressure on Brazil.

Croatia clinched the win when Marquinhos hit the post on Brazil’s final penalty to send Croatia through to the semifinals for the second straight tournament. 

With his penalty save, Livaković tied a World Cup record with four penalty saves in the tournament, while his 19 saves in Qatar from the run of play gives him the 2022 Golden Glove lead. 

By the time it suits up at the 2026 World Cup, presuming it qualifies, Brazil will match its longest drought between World Cup titles at 24 years. 

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Here were the lineups for both sides:

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Full World Cup squads

Brazil

GOALKEEPERS: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)

DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Pumas), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Marquinhos (PSG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Alex Telles (Sevilla)

MIDFIELDERS: Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham), Éverton Ribeiro (Flamengo)

FORWARDS: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

COACH: Tite

Croatia

GOALKEEPERS: Ivo Grbić (Atlético Madrid), Ivica Ivušic (Osijek), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb)

DEFENDERS: Borna Barišić (Rangers), Martin Erlić (Sassuolo), Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Josip Juranović (Celtic), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Staničić (Bayern Munich), Josip Šutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens)

MIDFIELDERS: Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Kristijan Jakić (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Luka Sušić (Salzburg), Nikola Vlašić (Torino)

FORWARDS: Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Perišić (Tottenham), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb)

COACH: Zlatko Dalić