Livakovic’ s heroics ‘kick out’ Brazil

Vinay Nayudu | NT

Doha, Qatar: Gutsy Croatia lived up to their reputation as giant killers as they broke millions of hearts ‘kicking out’ fivetime champions Brazil of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Friday.

In what was a great show of penalty kicks, the 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia came as close to perfection as they could, winning the shootout 4-2 after the quarter-final played at the Education City Stadium was tied 1-1 after extra-time.

Rodrygo and Marquinos missed their first and fourth kicks for Brazil, with the crucial last one hitting the bottom of left goal post much to the agony of Brazilian supporters worldwide. Nikola Vlasi, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric, and Petkovic (who made a brilliant kick) all scored for Croatia, while only Casemiro and striking substitute Pedro was on target for Brazil.

The spectre of penalties had loomed large all through the pulsating tie and while Neymar produced his magic to give Brazil the lead in extratime (105+1’), Croatia bounced back with an equalizer through Bruno Petkovic (116’), and then to end Brazil’s (and their greatest star – the ailing Pele’s dream of a sixth title) in the shootout.

Brazil also paid the penalty for relaxing in the final 10 minutes after having taken the lead. It proved to be a titanic blunder as Croatia expectedly went for the broke and equalized. In the shootout, Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was as brilliant as he was against Japan.

He stopped the first penalty which put Brazil players under great pressure right through. Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, the mercurial forward who provided Brazil’s fans the big relief in the first half of extra time (105+1’) with a blitz of brilliance, initiating the move and breaking through the defence in the box to strike, was left in tears in the end.

Neymar’s magic moment came after Croatia had held back the Samba boys at times even threatening to break the deadlock. It also saw Neymar equal Pele as Brazil’s all-time men’s top scorer with 77 FIFA-registered goals.