The primary match of the quarterfinal spherical on the 2022 FIFA World Cup started Friday with one of many greatest stunners in current World Cup historical past.
Croatia upset Brazil in penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals. Croatian goalie Dominik Livaković was unimaginable from begin to end, saving a number of photographs to maintain the match scoreless via the primary 90 minutes.
Livaković wasn’t in a position to cease Neymar within the closing minutes of the primary half of additional time although, placing Croatia in a 1-0 gap. With its World Cup hopes on the brink, Bruno Petkovic scored within the 117th minute to even up the match and ship it to penalty kicks.
Croatia took care of enterprise in penalty kicks, scoring in all 4 rounds with Livaković making a cease and Brazil’s Marquinhos hitting the left publish on the ultimate attempt to full the upset.
Jimmy Conrad, DaMarcus Beasley and Sacha Kljestan reacted to the beautiful consequence on “World Cup Now.”
The ‘FIFA World Cup Now’ crew critiques Brazil’s poor protection on Croatia
Croatia eliminates Brazil on penalty kicks. The “FIFA World Cup Now” crew critiques Brazil’s poor defensive effort on Croatia’s equalizer.
Beasley: Missed alternative for Brazil
They’ll be kicking themselves for the subsequent 4 years. They’d it and so they let it go. They cannot be extra disenchanted at anybody else however themselves. They misplaced it in these final two minutes of additional time. It was unacceptable defending. Once you’re up 1-0 with 5 minutes to go, there is not any approach you have to be having solely 4 defenders again. You have to be tight. You must lose the ball within the attacking half of the sphere. … It should be disappointing. It should be unhappy. They’re hurting proper now, and so they’re gutted, however they’ve solely obtained themselves responsible.
Kljestan: Croatia’s win exhibits the great thing about the World Cup
Simply seeing Croatia with the group they had been in with Belgium, Canada, and Morocco – I had them getting out of the group, however I did not have them going this far. That is past expectations, even saying they had been 2018 World Cup runners-up. I do not suppose anybody outdoors of the 26 gamers and that teaching workers really believed they might make it this far. So, lots of credit score to them. They’re simply grinding by and a successful mentality that is simply of their blood. I feel they’ve watched the generations earlier than them do that and say, “Yeah, we’re the smallest nation right here, however we are able to nonetheless make noise on the world stage.” It is wonderful, wonderful to look at. That is the great thing about the World Cup: When giants get crushed by small international locations.
Croatia vs. Brazil Highlights
Croatia and Brazil confronted off within the Quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Croatia would go on to win in PKs and would advance.
Conrad: Livaković is the Man of the Match
Earlier than Croatia scored, we stated Neymar’s obtained to be Man of the Match as a result of he scored one of many nice all-time targets. However all issues being equal, it is Livaković. He is been unbelievable. He is saved every part … every part! For those who did not watch any a part of this recreation, he was immense. He was a World Cup hero. A penalty-kick hero.
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