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Big upset in FIFA World Cup 2022, Croatia ousted five-time champion Brazil from the tournament

Al Rayyan. Croatia stormed into the semi-finals after beating five-time champions Brazil 4-2 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup on Friday thanks to a brilliant performance by goalkeeper Dominik Livkovic. Croatia will now face the winner of the quarterfinal between Argentina and the Netherlands. The star of the team was Livakovic, who did not allow any of Brazil’s shots to be converted in regular time.
 
The team that reached the final of the last World Cup deserved this victory, who did not kneel at any point and stuck to their right strategy even after falling behind, which did not give Brazil many chances. After regular time, the score was tied 1-1 in extra time, after which the match was decided by a penalty shootout. Croatian goalkeeper Livkovic played a key role in taking the match to this point, making several excellent saves throughout the match to save goals from Rodrigo and Marquinhos in the final challenge of the penalty shootout.
 
Neymar had given Brazil the lead earlier in extra time but Croatia equalized through a 117th-minute goal from Bruno Petkovic. The whole stadium echoed as soon as Neymar scored (105+1st minute). With this 77th goal, he equaled Pelé’s all-time goalscoring record for Brazil. After not playing well in the whole match, he got some relief from this goal. But the match was to be decided in the penalty shootout and Petkovic’s goal equalized the score.
 
Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric and Mislav Orisic scored for Croatia in spot kicks. Rodrigo of Brazil’s shot was saved by Livakovic. Casemiro and Pedro’s shots were successful but Marquinhos missed the stadium, which was packed with Brazilian fans. There was a wave of happiness in the Croatian camp. Croatia’s players made full use of their experience and their defense held firm in regular time, denying Brazil any breakthrough.
 
Trying to take the lead in the first half itself, Brazil had only three shots on target which were stopped. Croatia also got a few chances but failed. In the second half, Brazil started on the offensive and tested the Croatian goalkeeper a lot but could not find a goal. The frustration of the team and its spectators was mounting. The Croatian’s experience in midfield came in handy and he made the right decisions. In the 47th minute itself, the Croatian goalkeeper made a good save. A possible penalty was checked in the very next minute but it was not a penalty, giving Croatia a sigh of relief.
 
Two minutes later, Croatia got a corner, but to no avail. Neymar ran with the ball in the 54th minute and was brought down which was disallowed by the referee. Two minutes later, the Brazilian star forward came close to scoring with Richarlison’s help but his shot went straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. Antony was brought in place of Rafinha. In the 65th minute, Brazil were awarded a free kick for a foul on Neymar but his shot from 32 yards on goal was of no help. Rodrigo comes on in place of Vinicius Junior.
 
In the very next minute, a brilliant shot from close range was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic, Brazil were awarded a corner but it didn’t work. Casemiro of Brazil received a yellow card for a foul on Kramarich. In the 76th minute, Livkovic made a brilliant save from another Neymar shot. Croatia had lost to France in the final four years earlier. The team’s last six World Cup matches went to extra time, including a penalty shootout win over Japan in the Round of 16 in Qatar. The team has been successful in eight out of the last 10 knockout matches of the tournament. The Brazilian team was trying to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2014.

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