Croatia is the first semifinalist: defeated Brazil on penalties

Neymar answered Petkovic, Livakovic decisive on penalties

The first semifinalist of the Qatar 2022 World Cup is Croatia. Dalic’s men prevailed over Tite’s Brazil: Neymar’s goal in the first overtime was answered by Petkovic in the second, and, as against Japan, penalties handed the victory to Croatia.

The match was deadlocked in the first half with Brazil unable to take over the ball of the game, to the credit of a very aggressive and organized Croatia that also managed to find the sharpest chances of the first 45 minutes, especially in the beginning of the match.

Basically, the script does not change in the second half, where, however, the greenoro national team manages, on more than one occasion, to trouble the Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic, who, however, always comes ready, especially on Neymar but also on a very dangerous deflection by teammate Gvardiol. The 0-0 lasted until the 90th minute taking the two national teams into extra time.

In the first fraction of the extra-time, Brozovic squanders a very nice chance created by Petkovic and shortly afterwards Neymar, on a suggestion from Paquetà, manages to discard Livakovic as well and put the 1-0 ball into the goal, on which the first 15 minutes ended.

Croatia went on the attack, Brazil seemed to have the game in hand but Dalic’s men, three minutes from the 120th managed to find the equalizing goal on Petkovic’s conclusion deflected by Marquinhos that put off Alisson who did not get there despite touching the ball. In the dying minutes Livakovic was once again decisive as he parried a close-range finish by Thiago Silva, handing the game to penalty kicks.

From the penalty spot Livakovic immediately hypnotized Rodrygo, Croatia made no mistake and on the last penalty Marquinhos hit the post that gave the semifinal, the second consecutive one, to Croatia. Dalic’s men will face the winner of Netherlands-Argentina.