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It wasn’t supposed to finish like this.
Brazil had danced into the quarter-finals of the World Cup however their goals of a showpiece jig within the closing resulted in tears at Training Metropolis Stadium.
Croatia schooled the Samba stars on penalties to finish hopes of a sixth triumph as they have been dumped out of the competitors by a European nation once more.
It regarded like Neymar could be the hero when he opened the scoring in additional time to equal Pele’s official scoring file for the boys’s nationwide group however – because the unused fifth penalty taker – he left the sphere in tears after what might be his closing World Cup match.
After the sport, it was confirmed that boss Tite could be leaving his job, the 61-year-old unable so as to add to his Copa America triumph in 2019, whereas Neymar hinted at worldwide retirement.
“It’s certainly very troublesome,” Tite stated after the loss. “However it’s the finish of my cycle with the Brazil squad. I stated that one and half years in the past.”
South American soccer skilled Tim Vickery stated on BBC Radio 5 Stay: “That is loss of life within the household.
“That’s what it’ll really feel like within the subsequent few hours for Brazil followers. Croatia have despatched the far larger nation into mourning. This may actually harm for a very long time.
“I hope the inhabitants won’t activate them. Brazil crowds will be vicious. I hope there is not a damaging backlash as a result of this group do not deserve it.”
Ought to Neymar have taken first penalty?
The opening 90 minutes have been engrossing however the sides couldn’t be separated and the competition went into additional time.
Croatia have been there in eight of their previous 9 knockout video games in main tournaments and there was just one end result thereafter.
Neymar thought he had stood up for his nation once they wanted him probably the most, firing into the roof of the web to complete a slick group transfer.
The 106th-minute strike was his 77th worldwide purpose, drawing him stage with the nice Pele in accordance with Fifa information.
However Bruno Petkovic’s equaliser 4 minutes from time – which was Croatia’s solely shot on track – salvaged hope of development which they settled on spot-kicks.
It was the opposition that have been dancing this time as a disconsolate Neymar sank to the turf, tears streaming down his cheeks.
He was to be the fifth penalty taker however didn’t get that chance after Marquinhos struck the put up to seal their destiny.
The identical sorrowful ending has occurred earlier than.
At his dwelling World Cup in 2014 Neymar’s participation was ended by a again damage, and 4 years in the past they have been overwhelmed on the identical stage by Belgium.
Right here he was one of many final gamers to trudge off the pitch, Brazil’s supporters sitting within the stands in disbelief, their hopes in Qatar extinguished.
“Neymar was the fifth as a result of that’s the decisive one,” stated Tite. “There’s extra strain and the gamers who’re extra mentally ready needs to be ones to take this final penalty kick.”
However former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann disagreed on BBC One, saying: “He would have been my primary penalty taker. You want him to set the tone.”
‘Finish of the dream’
Brazil’s World Cup was ended by a European nation for the sixth consecutive match, and so they final beat a aspect from that continent within the 2002 closing in opposition to Germany.
That was additionally the final of their 5 World Cup triumphs, and it has been 20 years since a non-European aspect lifted the trophy.
The statistics make for grim studying for Brazil.
The South American aspect have been gradual starters and have failed to attain within the first half of six of their previous seven matches within the competitors.
Had Vinicius Junior or Neymar put away the alternatives that fell their method within the opening interval it might have been a distinct end result.
Tite’s males additionally grew to become the primary group in World Cup historical past to be eradicated from a knockout match wherein they scored the opening purpose throughout additional time.
In the meantime, the final time a nation ranked world primary reached the semi-finals was when Brazil did so again in 1998.
“It’s not solely myself that loses, the whole group loses,” stated Tite. “We tried to deal with possibilities and ending. Our technique was to extend the quantity – we had 19 possibilities and 11 pictures at purpose. They might not have one shot on track.
“I perceive I’m probably the most accountable one, however we’re all answerable for this loss. That’s soccer. Typically you win, generally you lose.”
Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Twitter: “Brazil labored exhausting. Neymar scored a good looking purpose and the group deserved higher. My respect to the gamers and supervisor.
“Let’s hold transferring ahead as a result of in life we will by no means hand over.”
Brazil web site Globo Esporte bemoaned the ‘finish of the dream’ on its dwelling web page.
It was for Tite, his gamers and all Brazil supporters.
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