Brazil vs. Croatia final score, result: Modric's men stun Neymar and Co. on penalties to reach World Cup semifinals

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Dominik Livakovic was Croatia’s penalty shoot-out hero once again as the 2018 finalists ended Brazil’s World Cup dream.

Neymar thought he had booked a place in the semifinals for the five-time winners, with a stunning extra-time effort illuminating the contest after a goalless 90 minutes.

But Zlatko Dalic’s remarkable team produced a sting in the tail when substitute Bruno Petkovic beat Alisson with a deflected strike in the 117th minute.

Croatia were then perfect from the spot, scoring four out of four. Livakovic saved from Rodrygo on Brazil’s first kick and Marquinhos rattled the post with their fourth, meaning his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar was left high and dry, waiting on a fifth penalty that never happened in a 4-2 defeat on spot kicks.

Brazil vs. Croatia final score

  1H 2H ET Final
Brazil 0 0 1 1 (2)
Croatia 0 0 1 1 (4)

Goals:
BRA — Neymar (Pedro) — 105th min+1

CRO — Bruno Petkovic (Mislav Orsic) — 117th min

CROATIA WON 4-2 ON PENALTIES

MORE: Best bets | Match referee | Brazil-Croatia history

The winner of the Netherlands vs. Argentina awaits Luka Modric and his colleagues in the semifinals, with Brazil once again unseated by a European nation, following exits at the hands of France in 2006, the Dutch in 2010, Germany in 2014 and Belgium last time around.

Neymar ended the evening contemplating an exit from the biggest stage despite drawing level with the great Pele as Brazil’s all-time top scorer. He started it as a frustrated figure in a first half where the best chance fell Croatia’s way, with Josip Juranovic and Ivan Perisic just failing to get on the end of a teasing cross from surprise starter Mario Pasalic.

Brazil were often befuddled by a Modric-orchestrated midfield before assuming the ascendency during the second period.

That was when Livakovic, who excelled himself to see off Japan in the previous round, came to the fore. Twice he thwarted Neymar with his feet on the end of Richarlison throughballs and he also brilliantly denied Lucas Paqueta at close quarters.

It was going to need something special to beat Livakovic and Neymar duly obliged, completing a couple of one-twos to blast holes in the Croatia defence. The second return pass from substitute Pedro was overhit but Neymar simply sashayed around Livakovic and rammed into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

But Petkovic, who put in an otherwise laboured cameo, produced a jaw-dropping twist before Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Modric and Orsic all held their nerve from 12 yards, reducing Neymar to a tearful bystander.

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Lineups:

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 14. Eder Militao, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Silva, 2. Danilo — 5. Casemiro, 7. Paqueta — 11. Raphinha, 10. Neymar, 20. Vinicius Jr — 9. Richarlison

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 9. Kramaric, 14. Pasalic, 4. Perisic. 

Brazil vs. Croatia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

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WOW! Heartbreak for Brazil, whose wait for a sixth world title goes on. This Croatia team have been too tired and too old for about five years. Never, ever write them off!

8th penalty: Marquinhos...CRASHES IT INTO THE BASE OF THE LEFT-HAND POST. Croatia 4-2 Brazil. Croatia are through to the World Cup semifinals!!!!!!

7th penalty: Fresh form his assist, Orsic creams one into the side netting. Brilliant. Brazil must score. Croatia 4-2 Brazil.

6th penalty: Pedro makes light of his inexperience and sits Livakovic down to score. Croatia 3-2 Brazil.

5th penalty: Modric trots up nonchalantly. Sends Alisson the wrong way and puts it right in the corner. So good. Croatia 3-1 Brazil.

4th penalty: Casemiro is up. Livakovic guesses correctly again but it's a great penalty. Croatia 2-1 Brazil.

3rd penalty: Another substitute, Majer...lashes it down the middle! Croatia 2-0 Brazil.

2nd penalty: Rodrygo with a long, winding run... Livakovic saves! Down to his left, it's a poor penalty. Croatia 1-0 Brazil.

1st penalty: Brazil won the toss and the kicks will take place at the end where the bulk of their yellow-clad fans are gathered. Vlasic is up first... High down the middle. Emphatic! Croatia 1-0 Brazil.

120th minute+2: Croatia don't fully deal with Neymar's free-kick, it falls to Casemiro and Livakovic is there again. The man has his eye in.

120th minute: There will be two additional minutes. How are your nerves? Antony wins a free-kick from Perisic and that's a bit silly from the experienced winger.

117th minuteGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Petkovic

OH MY GOD! Croatia do not know when they are beaten. Modric picks up some scraps in midfield and Orsic hares down the left channel. His cross reaches Petkovic, who swings his robust left leg at it and a deflection beats Alisson. Incredible scenes!

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114th minute: Brazil win a corner. Suffice to say Neymar is taking his time and not launching this into the box.

113th minute: Defending might not be seen as Antony's strongest suit but he does really well against Perisic, hustling him out of possession to see the ball out for a goalkick.

109th minute: Modric collected Perisic's pass and a lovely change of direction befuddled Fred to win a corner. Croatia take off Sosa and bring on striker Budimir. It's now or never.

105th minute: The second half of extra time is underway. Can a crestfallen Croatia summon anything?

105th minute+1: GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!! Neymar!!!!!!

That's the breakthrough and it's brilliant from Neymar. He comes short to collect possession and dart on to a couple of return passes. The second of those from Pedro is overhit, so he goes around Livakovic and, from a tight angle, he crashes into the roof of the net to break Croatian hearts.

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103rd minute: Oh, Brozovic should do better! Lovren starts a Croatia counter with a thumping challenge on Neymar. Modric lofts a pass to Petkovic, who initially appears determined to tread on the ball again. The big man somehow dances through a couple of challenges and squares to Brozovic. Leaning back, he blazes over from the edge of the box.

101st minute: Pedro tries a spectacular volley but can't make effective contact. Croatia are deep in their defensive shape. It's hard to escape the conclusion they're playing for penalties at this stage. Their periods of possession seem primarily designed for containment.

99th minute: Tasty ball in from Rodrygo but Sosa does well to track Paqueta's run and shepherd him away from attacking it at the back post.

97th minute: Brazil are sustaining attacks and Croatia need some respite. Petkovic can't provide that as he gets the ball and gives it away in lumbering fashion. It's not been a great cameo from the Dinamo Zagreb man thus far.

91st minute: We go again! Early corner in extra time for Brazil. Pedro gets the near-post flick on and no one can get a second touch. Paqueta looks to have jarred his knee. Hopefully he's okay.

Fulltime: Anthony gets onto his left foot but can't get hold of a speculative effort that Livakovic holds. Here we go again with Croatia.

90th minute+1: Four minutes of stoppage time begin with Croatia clearing a corner. Dalic's men are ready to go the distance again.

86th minute: CLOSE! Anthony jinks in again, his blocked cross falls for Eder Militao - what's the right-back doing up there? He thumps it first time and the shot is deflected just wide. Another joyless Brazilian corner follows.

85th minute: Brilliant pressure from Croatia and Alisson boots the ball out for a throw deep in Brazil territory. The Croatia bench are on their feet roaring their teammates on.

84th minute: Richarlison makes way for Pedro, the Flamengo striker winning his fourth cap. He'd certainly be an unlikely hero. Tite is sticking with his shape. 

82nd minute: Richarlison heads over under pressure from Gvardiol. It's a half chance at best. Brazil have been the better side since halftime but also by far the most frantic. Make of that what you will as extra time looms.

80th minute: Anthony cutely nutmegs Sosa, his cross to the back post is kept alive and Livakovic saves from Paqueta at close quarters. Brazil probably want to avoid a penalty shoot-out with him in this mood!

77th minute: Richarlison pulls off the same trick from earlier in the half, playing in Neymar. There's joy to be had down that channel for Brazil. But there's no joy to be had for Neymar against Livakovic, who again stands his ground to save. Croatia deal with the corner.

74th minute: Neymar's latest attempt to break through the massed Croatian ranks is stymied by Juranovic. It's not been his evening at all so far.

72nd minute: Fresh legs for Croatia and Kramaric and Pasalic are in no hurry to come off. Vlasic and Petkovic come on and the latter will provide more of a physical presence in attack and inside both boxes.

68th minute: Pasalic and Kramaric take the sting out and exchange passes. Casemiro fouls the latter and is booked.

66th minute: Brilliant again from Livakovic. A deflected ball into the box loops to Paqueta but Croatia's No.1 is out like a flash to smother his attempt.

65th minute: For every Roberto Carlos vs France at Le Tournoi, there are hundreds of what Casemiro did just then, clumping a 35-yard free-kick into the wall.

64th minute: Rodrygo ready to come on for Brazil and he's replacing Real Madrid team mate Vinicius. Find that a bit surprising, to be honest, even though Juranovic has been excellent at right-back for Croatia.

56th minute: Tite turns to his best, with Antony replacing Raphinha. That's a like-for-like swap on the right wing and doesn't really address any issues in central midfield, although Brazil have probably been the better side since the break in their current shape.

55th minute: Big chance for Neymar. Richarlison comes deep, spins and plays in Neymar. He scuffs his shot slightly but that still an excellent save by Livakovic with his feet.

51st minute: Now it's Brazil's turn to look uneasy in their own area but Perisic is unable to capitalise.

48th minute: Scramble in the Croatia box, resulting in a fine save from Livakovic, who wasn't to know the offside flag was up. A check for a possible handball in the penalty area throws up nothing conclusive.

46th minute: We're back underway and there are no changes for either side, which is perhaps more of a surprise from a Brazilian point of view.

Halftime: A half of few chances comes to an end and Croatia will be very happy with their work. You'd think Tite has to consider getting Fred or Bruno Guimaraes into his under-manned midfield somehow.

42nd minute: That's really good, assured goalkeeping from Livakovic. Neymar's free-kick clipped off the wall but he adjusted to catch it unfussily.

41st minute: Vinicius draws a foul from Brozovic on the left-hand corner of the penalty area. The Croatia midfielder is on a yellow card and needs to be careful. 

38th minute: Can someone throw another ball on so Brazil can have a go? Thanks.

34th minute: Modric is purring at the moment. Croatia are outnumbering Brazil in midfield. As England and other sides can attest, that can start to become a pretty dark predicament in a major knockout game. But do Croatia have the firepower to make their technical majesty count?

31st minute: Neymar nutmegs Brozovic, who responds by petulantly bringing him down. That's a booking for the Inter midfielder.

26th minute: Brazil get it away and Neymar draws a foul. 

25th minute: Dear oh dear. Danilo goes flying in on Juranovic with a high boot. He's booked and the fact he got the ball probably saved him from more severe punishment. Modric likes the look of this set piece on the right.

24th minute: Casemiro has a shot deflected behind. Croatia clear at the near post and Modric wins a free-kick to take the sting out of a promising few minutes for the Selecao.

20th minute: Vinicius again in off the left, plays a one-two with Richarlison and has a shot blocked by Gvardiol. Brazil keep the attack alive and it ends with Livakovic making a routine save from Neymar.

18th minute: Vinicius, probably Brazil's brightest attacker during these early knockings, aims a cross with the outside of his right boot. The masked man Gvardiol takes care of business before Croatia get back on the front foot.

14th minute: More jitters from Brazil as Alisson feeds Casemiro and Modric picks the Manchester United man's pocket. A floated ball to the back post is dealt with by Militao.

13th minute: CHANCE FOR CROATIA!!! Juranovic drives forward superbly from right-back. He feeds Pasalic and continues his run. The cross is a beauty but Juranovic and Perisic just fail to make decisive contact.

10th minute: Brazil trying to crank it up a bit. Neymar allows Vinicius to dart in from the flank. His attempted pass into the area is cleared but Casemiro does his thing to snaffle the second ball, giving Raphinha a chance before he runs the ball just over the byline.

9th minute: Blimey, Modric plays a risky lofted pass inside his own half and Brozovic is forced to bring down Raphinha to avoid any significant damage.

6th minute: It actually looks more like Pasalic is operating from the right, with Kramaric at the centre of the Croatia attack. Having said that, the Atalanta man just darted into the penalty area and Modric spun a pass out to where he had been on the flank. It skidded out for a throw. A moment to forget for Modric but one to highlight how this Croatia forward line will look to switch positions whenever they can.

5th minute: Vinicius curls one right-footed from outside the box and that's easy enough for Croatia's shoot-out hero Livakovic to hold.

3rd minute: Brozovic takes a free-kick short and Modric launches an early enquiry into the Brazil box. Thiago Silva gets up to clear.

3 mins from kickoff: Anthems done. Ready to rock'n'roll? 

8 mins from kickoff: Here come the teams. Bit early, almost caught me on the hop! Anyway, we all can't wait for these World Cup quarterfinals to get going and it seems these players are no different.

30 mins from kickoff: Let's dwell a little more upon that surprise Pasalic selection. The attacking midfielder has thrived in Gian Piero Gasperini's freewheeling Atalanta attack, which means he should be well suited to his role. On the other hand, he tends to operate a little more deeply for the Serie A side and has scored just once in 14 top-flight appearances this season.

Against a normal opponent, you'd think Pasalic thrown in with Croatia's imperious midfield trio would be a route to dominating possession. That's probably a tough ask against this vibrant Brazil, but him vacating space up front might create room for Kramaric and Perisic to do some damage. The latter just absolutely loves these big occasions.

1 hr from kickoff: Atalanta's Mario Pasalic is a surprise inclusion in the Croatia XI. That means Dalic's men look likely to operate with a false nine, giving them a better chance of controlling central areas.

1 hr 10 mins from kickoffBrazil are unchanged. The team that performed with such fantastical swagger against South Korea get the chance to do it again.

1 hr 30 mins from kickoff: It's not just their proclivity for extra time that means Croatia have got through a lot of work. Can a Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic-inspired side tickle these numbers to fine effect?

2 hrs from kickoff: Here's a little more from Zlatko Dalic.

2 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Perhaps Brazil are banking on an ageing Croatia being tired. You'd think Zlatko Dalic's side will run out of gas at some stage but the 2018 finalists are masters when it comes to going the distance. 

Seven of Croatia’s last eight major tournament knockout matches have gone to extra time. They’ve won all four of those matches at the World Cup, with the Japan triumph their third in succession on penalties.. 

3 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: They might be the World Cup's most celebrated superpower, but Brazil have a bit of a curse to lay to rest today. Since lifting the trophy for a fifth time in 2002, they have lost all of their knockout games against European opposition (France in 2006, Netherlands in 2010, Germany in 2014 and Belgium in 2018). Throw in the third-place playoff defeat to the Dutch in 2014 and it's a 0-5 slump that Tite is looking to snap.

4 hrs from kickoff: A moment of magic won it for Brazil when these two sides met in the 2006 World Cup group stage. That came courtesy of Kaka.

4 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: What better way to whet the appetite ahead of Brazil vs. Croatia than with a Neymar highlight reel. Enjoy:

5 hrs from kickoff: If you've watched enough World Cup games, you're probably good at distinguishing the stadiums by now. But you probably didn't get this kind of tour of Education City.

5 hrs from kickoff: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has said that he wants to replicate the compact defending Switzerland executed against Brazil despite the fact that the Swiss ultimately lost that match 1-0.

"Brazil are the fastest and best team at this World Cup. We must not leave them too much space," Dalic told media in the lead-up. "If we play wide we'll have great problems. But on the other hand we know that when they lose the ball they have high pressing and if they do not take control of the ball in the next couple of seconds they have problems, so we'll try to take that into account. Our concentration must not fail us."

The theme from Croatia camp is clear. Brazil are better, but...

Brazil vs Croatia lineups, team news

Although he did make it through training with the team, Brazil left-back Alex Sandro (hip) is expected to sit out a third straight match with right-back Danilo moving over to take his spot and Eder Militao operating again at right-back. Gabriel Jesus (right knee) and Alex Telles (right knee) are the only other injury absences for Brazil.

Eder Militao is one of three Brazil players on yellow card warning together with Bruno Guimaraes and Fred. One more yellow card in this game and they'd sit out a potential final. 

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 14. Eder Militao, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Silva, 2. Danilo — 5. Casemiro, 7. Paqueta — 11. Raphinha, 10. Neymar, 20. Vinicius Jr — 9. Richarlison

MORE: Even Brazil's coach Tite was dancing after goals vs. South Korea

Borna Sosa has recovered from the illness that kept him out against Japan, and he will take over from Rangers' Borna Barisic at left-back. But creative Dinamo Zagreb attacker Mislav Orsic has reportedly caught the bug and sat out the last training session. He's expected to be available off the bench.

The big question for Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was in attack, and specifically who starts alongside left-winger Ivan Perisic and right-winger Andrej Kramaric: The centre-forward spot looked to be between Marko Livaja, Bruno Petkovic or Ante Budimir but Atalanta's Mario Pasalic got the nod to operate as a false nine.

Josip Stanisic (muscle) missed the last match, but is available again, while Marcelo Brozovic was also back in training after getting an extra day of rest. The Modric-Brozovic-Kovacic trident in central midfield is untouchable, but Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are one yellow card away from suspension, as is centre-back Dejan Lovren.

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 9. Kramaric, 15. Pasalic, 4. Perisic. 

MORE: Why is Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol wearing a mask?

Brazil vs Croatia live stream, TV channel

This quarterfinal match between Croatia and Brazil will be played at the Education City Stadium.

Here's how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Fri, Dec. 9 10:00 ET Fox,
Telemundo
fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Fri, Dec. 9 10:00 ET TSN 1, RDS (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app
UK Fri, Dec. 9 15:00 GMT BBC One BBC iPlayer, BBC website
Australia Sat, Dec. 10 02:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Fri, Dec. 9 20:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Fri, Dec. 9 23:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Fri, Dec. 9 23:00 MYT Astro FIFA World Cup 1 Astro GO
Singapore Fri, Dec. 9 23:00 SGT StarHub FIFA World Cup,
Singtel FIFA World Cup 141
Singtel TV GO, CAST,
StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand Sat, Dec. 10 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW
Author(s)
Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK.