Brazil's mission hexa up against Modric's last dance
In-form Brazil team will be up against a resilient Croatia side in the first quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
Brazil bounced back after a shock 0-1 defeat to Cameroon in their last group-stage match by sealing a dominant 4-1 win over South Korea in the Round of 16.
Neymar, who returned in the South Korea game after missing out two group-stage matches, will once again lead Brazil's charge in their 'Mission Hexa'.
On the other hand, Croatia dragged a spirited Japan team all the way to the penalty shootout, and used their experience to send the Blue Samurai back to Japan.
Croatia will be looking towards their old guard Luka Modric to come up with the goods against a fierce Brazil team.
Squads
Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Borna Sosa, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalic, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Juranovic Brazil: Alisson, Eder Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Richarlison
Will Neymar equal Pele today?
Neymar enters the quarter-final match with 76 goals for Brazil in 123 appearances for the Selecao.
Neymar scored once against South Korea in the Round-of-16. Another goal today will make Neymar's goal tally on par with the great Pele.
2- Croatia Free-kick
Casemiro fouled Kovacic and Croatia get the first free-kick of the match. But Luka Modric's free-kick was disappointing and Brazil easily fended it away.
5- Vinicius takes a shot at goal
Vinicius made an inquisitive run at the left-wing and took a shot at the Croatia goal. But the Croat keeper was up to the task.
8'- Wrong pass from Modric in Croat half, Raphinha fails to capitalise
9'- Raphinha makes a run inside the box, but fails to keep the ball in. Goal-kick from Croatia
13'- Perisic misses in front of goal
Croatia nearly took an early lead, but Perisic failed to connect an enticing pass right in front of the goal.
14'- Corner
Croatia get the first corner of the match. But Modric's delivery was disappointing.
15'- Croatia puts Brazil under pressure
Brazil defence looks unsettled in front of Croat pressure. Modric put an enticing cross in the Brazil box but Brazil somehow avert the danger.
21'- Vinicius, Neymar test Croatia
After a difficult 10-minute period for Brazil, Vinicius nearly sneaked past the Croatia defence but couldn't thread the ball through a wall of Croatian defenders.
A few seconds later, Neymar skipped past two Croatian players and entered the d-box, but his shot was easily grabbed by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
24'-Brazil get their first corner of the match. But nothing comes off it
25'- YELLOW CARD
Brazilian left-back Danilo sees the first yellow of the match. Croatia get a free-kick at the edge of the box. But Modric's delivery was once again disappointing.
28'- FOUL
Brozovic shoved Vinicius in front of the referee to stop a promising Brazil attack. The referee awards Brazil a free-kick but nothing comes of it.
29'- Perisic takes a shot, but misses the mark by a mile
31'- YELLOW CARD
Brozovic fouled Neymar in front the Croatia box and sees a yellow card.
36'- Richarlison gets a couple of half chances, but fails to get the shot away
41'- FREE-KICK for Brazil
After a few minutes of sustained possession, Vinicius tried to sneak past the firm Croatia defence and was fouled at the edge of the box.
Neymar took the free-kick but the Croatia keeper safely collected the ball without much effort.
45'- One minute added as stoppage time
HALF-TIME: Brazil 0 - Croatia 0
Brazil found life difficult against a resolute Croatia team, who had a fair share of chances to score themselves. But at the end of the first 45 minutes, both teams stand on equal terms.
First Half Stats
Possession: Brazil 51% - Croatia 49%
Shots: Brazil 5 - Croatia 3
Shots on Target: Brazil 3 - Croatia 0
Fouls: Brazil 6 - Croatia 8
Yellow Cards: Brazil 1 - Croatia 1
46'- Second half begins. No changes from both sides
47'- Brazil nearly take the lead
Brazil take a couple of shots inside 30 seconds, Croatia somehow survive.
Gvardiol nearly scored an own goal while trying to clear a cross from Militao. Neymar then took a shot at the Croatia goal from inside the box, which a Croat defenders fends off. The referee conducted a VAR check on a potential hand-ball, but nothing came off it.
55'- Neymar denied
Richarlison held up the ball, to open up space for Neymar inside the box. Neymar was in a one-on-one situation with the Croat keeper but couldn't send the ball home.
56'- SUBSTITUTION
Antony comes in for Raphinha
62'- Persic puts a ball inside Brazil half, but Alisson easily collects it
64'- Militao crosses the ball into the box from the right wing, but Lovren easily cleared it for Croatia
64'- SUBSTITUTION for Brazil
Rodrygo in for Vinicius
66'- Dominik Livakovic denies Paqueta
Rodrygo almost made an immediate impact, giving a pass to Paqueta, who was denied by the outstretched hand of Croatia keeper Livakovic
68'- YELLOW CARD
Casemiro sees a yellow card after fouling Kramaric
72'- SUBSTITUTION
Croatia make a double change. IN- Petkovic, Vlasic. OUT- Kramaric, Pasalic
76'- Livakovic again denies Brazil
A through pass from Rodrygo, almost resulted in a goal for Brazil. But Livakovic once again made a point blank save, this time denying Richarlison with his knee.
80'- Paqueta takes a grounded shot, but Livakovic again up to the challenge
82'- Richarlison's header goes over the bar
84'- SUBSTITUTION
Brazil makes their change. Richarlison replaced by Pedro
86'- Militao's shot takes a deflection. Brazil get a corner., but nothing comes off it
90-' Four minutes added as stoppage time
94'- The game goes into Exta Time
Croatia withstood a barrage of Brazil attack in the last 15 minutes to take the game into extra time.
Brazil took 10 shots on goal in the second half, five of them were on target. But the Croatian goalkeeper is having the match of his life, as he has been equal to the task on every occasion.
92'- CORNER for Brazil
Brazil got their first corner in extra time, but Pedro's header was off target for Brazil.
97'- Brazil keep pushing, but fail to deliver final blow
98'- Rodrygo sends a teasing cross from the left flank, but Paqueta fails to connect
101'- Pedro attempts a scissor kick, but fails to connect
103'- Brozovic misses a golden chance
Brozovic nearly scores for Croatia against the run of play but puts the ball over the bar
105'- one minute added as stoppage time in the first half of extra time
106'-GOAL for Brazil
Neymar breaks the deadlock for Brazil with a goal to remember.
Neymar started the attack from the midfield, passing it to Paqueta, who returned the ball to Neymar who had made his inside the box by then.
Neymar didn't rush his shot, dragged the ball to the right and further away from the keeper, before finally firing the ball home.
With this goal, Neymar joined Pele as Brazil's highest ever goal-scorer.
111'- Croatia push for equaliser but Brazil holding on
117'- CROATIA EQUALISE
Petkovic makes it 1-1.
120'- Two minutes added as stoppage time
122'- Livakovic makes his 11th save in the match to take the game into a penalty shootout
Brazil 1- Croatia 1 after 120 minutes
The fate of the Brazil-Croatia quarter-final will be decided in a penalty shootout after both sides were squared up at 1-1 after two hours of intense action.
Neymar had seemingly won it with a stunning goal in the first half of extra time. But, Petkovic equalised in the 117th minute to take the game into penalties.
1st Penalty
Croatia: Vlasic scores
Brazil: Rodrygo denied by Livakovic
2nd Penalty
Croatia: Majer scores
Brazil: Casemiro scores
3rd Penalty
Croatia: Modric scores
Brazil: Pedro scores
4th Penalty
Croatia: Orsic scores
Brazil: Marquinhos denied by the bar
Croatia win it on penalties
Rodrygo and Marquinhos missed their penalty kicks while Croatia scored from all four of their shots, to beat Brazil 4-2 on penalties.