(Football news) Croatia booked their place in the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup after winning a dramatic penalty shootout 4-2 against Brazil at the Education City Stadium. Brazil headed into this fixture as favourites and scored the opening goal in extra time through Neymar (105+1), thereby equalling Pele’s record of 77 international goals. However, that wasn’t enough as the 2018 finalists equalised in the 117th minute through Bruno Petkovic who latched onto a cross by Mislav Orsic and his shot got a big deflection off Marquinhos, wrong footing goalkeeper Alisson. 

Croatia reached the 2018 finals after winning two shootouts and winning one in extra time and kept their composure as Marquinhos and Rodrygo failed to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric and Orsic found the back of the net from the spot and have now reached the World Cup semi-finals on three separate occasions (1998, 2018 and 2022). Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved four penalties in the shootout, the joint highest in the World Cup’s history. They will now take on Argentina, who overcame the Netherlands on penalties in the first semi-final.

“This is for the Croatian people. A great match from the first minute to the last. This is not the end for us, let’s keep going. This is a victory for all of us, everyone gave their best. Thanks also to those on the bench, who also live for this national team. We eliminated the biggest favourites.”

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic