On a windy night time, Brazil went out of the World Cup. To every other European staff and once more within the quarter-finals. A cycle has ended, stated head trainer Tite sticking to his stand of stepping down when the five-time champions’ race was once run right here. Having equaled Pele’s document of 77 world objectives – that is 15 greater than Ronaldo Nazario and 22 greater than Romario’s tally – Neymar Jr stated he isn’t certain of enjoying for Brazil once more.
Fine margins make a decision World Cup video games. David Trezeguet hit the framework and Italy changed into global champions. Pablo Sarabia’s shot skimmed the put up and shortly after, Spain had been heading house. Having flung himself complete stretch, Manuel Neuer may best watch Lionel Messi’s angular force pass inches previous his objective on the Maracana earlier than Germany gained that ultimate. The penalty from Marquinhos had Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livacovic, so just right at expecting photographs from the spot, going the fallacious approach nevertheless it pinged off the put up resulting in tears of pleasure and melancholy.
Also, video games are regularly no longer gained via the staff that entertains or has lots of the ball. Ask spain. Or Brazil. Choreographed celebrations, audacious objectives together with that Neymar Jr strike on Friday, one that may stay as a part of the highlights reel of this version, weren’t sufficient. The event the place they misplaced to Croatia was once additionally one the place they had been tamed via an African staff. Both firsts.
“We showed once again what it means to never give up,” stated Croatia trainer Zlatko Dalic. “Hats off to all my players who eliminated a massive tournament favorite and probably the best team. Only Croatia could do this. I think only teams with character can come back like this. It has sort of become normal for us.”
Did Brazil have that too? Tite didn’t agree that the team lacked mental fortitude pointing out their attempts on target (11; Croatia had 1) and that they led until the 117th minute. “When you play 90-minutes, two halves of extra time, then open the scoring, I don’t know,” he said.
But was replacing Vinicius Jr in the 64th minute and Raphinha in the 56th also not indication of early signs of panic? True, Croatia were successful in keeping him away from the ball for long but like Neymar, Vinicius can influence games in one action; he won a Champions League final that way. Accepting that criticism comes with the territory, Tite said the replacements, Antony and Rodrygo, brought different skills.
Brazil had more chances in the second half but were not efficient till Neymar decided to settle things on his own. Then they celebrated like they had already won. Half-time of extra-time was seen spent in celebratory hugs. Instead of trying to manage the game, Brazil tried to score another and were caught on the counter-attack.
In 2014, Neymar’s absence due to injury had David Luiz and Julio Cesar held his jersey while belting out the national anthem before the semi-final. The team’s inability to keep emotions in check contributed to the implosion that followed. It was hard to deny a sense of that again on Friday.
Croatia knew they would have to suffer and were ready for it. The midfield of Luka Modric, Matteo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic which Dalic said was “the best in the world” did not “rush” things when they had the ball. “That, I think, was the most important thing,” said the Croatia coach after getting to his second successive World Cup semi-final. To do that against a team with the attacking talent of Brazil says a lot about their mental resilience.
In six World Cup’s this century, Brazil have been taken to the tie-breakers only once, by Chile in the round of 16 in 2014. Eight of Croatia’s last knockout games have gone to extra-time; Croatia have won five of the last games that went to penalties. “Once we get to penalties, that’s when we become favourites. I sense that the opponent feels like they have lost the game already because Croatia have won so many things on penalties. But still you have to get to the penalty shootout, that’s not so simple” stated Dalic.
Only Argentina have gained successive penalty shootouts within the World Cup, in 1990.
Starting the penalty with a save additionally approach, stated Dalic, giving your staff self belief and making the fighters shaky “as they begin pondering, he’ll save once more.”
Also, consequences don’t seem to be lotteries as Luis Enrique has identified. The former Spain trainer stated it was once about apply and ability. Unlike Rodrygo’s effort, Croatia’s consequences right here had been so smartly performed that Gary Lineker can now replace his remark to soccer being a easy recreation of eleven v 11 however then it is going to consequences and Croatia win.
Tite had spoken of no longer enjoying high quality European groups in friendlies may abate Brazil’s arrangements. Brazil hadn’t performed one since March 2019. Brazil handled Serbia and Switzerland however the wins weren’t with out fight. Croatia had been a step up. So, Obligado Brazil. The World Cup will pass over you. You had been just right however no longer just right sufficient.