The bitterly disappointed Neymar was all alone with his grief, Luka Modric let his children dance around him in Croatia jerseys: Emotions would have changed after Brazil's surprising and dramatic knockout. could not be more different at the World Cup in Qatar.
The clear top favorite has once again said goodbye in the quarter-finals and has to travel home early after a gripping 4-2 defeat on penalties.
For Neymar, whose stroke of genius in extra time wasn't enough, it could have been the last real shot at the golden World Cup. Specifically, he did not want to comment on this in the catacombs. "It's very early to talk about it. I'm not closing the door to the Seleção. But I'm also not 100 per cent guaranteeing that I'll be back," said Neymar. He will "have to analyze and think a bit about everything that is good for me, what is good for the Seleção".
Casemiro: "It slipped away from us"
The defeat against Croatia seemed avoidable. "We had it in our hands and it slipped away from us," said leading player Casemiro after the defeat in which Croatia's Dominik Livakovic became a great hero, as he did in the round of 16 against Japan. Although Livakovic only saved a penalty this time, he defused numerous great chances in the 120 minutes before. "We are fighters, we gave our hearts. We are totally happy," said the goalkeeper, who became the player of the match at Education City Stadium in Al-Rajjan.
Brazil, on the other hand, is in deep football mourning, the desired "Hexa" will have to wait at least four more years. "We are sad, we get up again and look ahead. I'm really very proud of everyone, but unfortunately we lost," said captain Thiago Silva in a first reaction. When Marquinhos hit the post with the fourth and thus decisive penalty, Neymar, who was weak apart from the goal, sank to the grass directly in the center circle. The Paris professional later received consolation from Ivan Perisic's son.
Dalic: "We have a very strong character"
The 30-year-old Neymar was no longer allowed to play from the point because the nerve game had already been decided beforehand. Bruno Petkovic's very late goal (117th minute) after Neymar's lead (105th) was the key to the penalty shootout, which gave Croatia another spectacular coup.
"It's one of the biggest victories for our country. We showed that we won't give up. We have a very strong character," said coach Zlatko Dalic. In 2018, when Croatia surprisingly reached the World Cup final and lost to France, the team had only survived the round of 16 and the quarter-finals in a duel from the point. "This is our second World Cup semi-final in a row and we're a small country. I'm thrilled with how they played," said Dalic, looking at his pros.
No Superclasico in the semifinals
The Brazilians, who had been outstanding before the quarter-finals, were stopped just as the whole of South America was already dreaming of a Superclasico against Argentina in next Tuesday's semi-finals. But another coach will have to do the development work, because Tite's farewell after the World Cup has been a decision for months - regardless of the outcome of the World Cup.
A year after Lionel Messi and company's Copa America title, Brazil will again have to watch on December 18 as another nation raise the trophy claimed by the Seleção to the Lusail night sky. The wait goes on, at least until the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. In addition to Neymar in Richarlison, Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha, there were numerous other ball artists for the Brazilians and the prospects were bright.
Modric trumps as a clock
The 37-year-old Modric, who is believed to be playing his last World Cup, will become a kind of stand-up man in Qatar. After a mixed preliminary round, he came up trumps again against favorites Brazil, defended powerfully in midfield and converted his penalty effortlessly. "I hope that he will play for us for a long time. It is something very special to play with him in a team," said his colleague Borna Sosa from VfB Stuttgart.
The coronation that he was denied in the final four years ago could now be possible. One of the Croatians' trump cards is their strong nerves - and the captain. "Luka Modric set the rhythm. It's unbelievable how great he is playing. He wasn't tired. We asked him and he was ready. This is Luka Modric. He showed that he is one of the best players in the world "added head coach Dalic. There was no substitution like there was against Japan this time. Appropriately, assistant coach Ivica Olic said: "Croatia is a small country, but has very great footballers."
Brazil's defense chief Silva was visibly depressed. "It's very difficult, you have no words. It hurts a lot. I would have liked to have held the trophy up," said the Chelsea professional. The late equalizer in particular bothered him: "It was just unfortunate and it's incredibly difficult." Before Petkovic equalized in front of 43,893 spectators, the game actually seemed decided. But then came the joker for Croatia - and then the penalty hero.
