After Neymar, Croatia aim to end Messi’s World Cup dream
AL KHOR, Qatar: Croatia have already ended Neymar’s World Cup dream. Now they hope to do the same to Lionel Messi.
Bruno Petkovic Sport News
Croatia's mental strength has deep roots, says World Cup hero Petkovic
Croatia striker Bruno Petkovic says the team's mental strength that has propelled them to two penalty shoot-out wins at the World Cup has deep roots in the country's struggle for independence.
PREVIEW-Croatia in the way of Argentina's dream of a World Cup final spot
DOHA : Argentina, led by superstar Lionel Messi, came into the World Cup as one of the favourites but they face a big roadblock in the semi-final on Tuesday with 2018 runners-up Croatia, who proved too much for the other title contenders, Brazil.
'It hurts a lot!': Brazil captain Silva admits agony of World Cup exit
Brazil captain Thiago Silva said his team's World Cup exit to Croatia on penalties was painful and that he was coming to terms with the fact he would never win the trophy.
Neymar Says 'No Guarantee' He Will Play For Brazil Again
Brazil star Neymar hinted he might quit international football on Friday, saying he could not "100 percent" guarantee he would play for the national team again. Speaking after his side's World Cup quarter-final defeat in Qatar, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar suggested he could step away. "I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100 percent that I will return," said an emotional Neymar, 30. "I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team."
'End of a cycle': Tite bows out as Brazil coach after 'painful' World Cup exit
Tite confirmed that it was the "end of a cycle" for him as coach of Brazil after the favourites were dumped out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals on penalties by Croatia on Friday.
'The cycle is over' - Tite indicates his Brazil reign is done after Croatia loss
Tite suggested his time as Brazil coach is over but defended his penalty tactics after they crashed out of the World Cup to Croatia. Marquinhos' decisive spot kick hit the post after Dominik Livakovic had saved Rodrygo's opening effort in the shootout to send Croatia into the last four with Neymar never getting a chance to step up. Croatia did not miss with Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric, Mislav Orsic all scoring to send them through 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Neymar had given Brazil the lead in the first-half of extra time - the Paris St Germain star equalling Pele's Brazil scoring record with 77 FIFA-registered goals - only for Bruno Petkovic to level with three minutes left. But it was heartbreak for Neymar and Brazil with the striker due to go fifth in the shootout, yet there was no regret from Tite. He said: "The fifth is the decisive one, there is more pressure and the players who are more mentally prepared are the ones to take this last penalty kick. "The players know about my commitment and they know how proud I am of their performance. It's the entire team who loses.
Distraught Brazil rue what might have been
AL RAYYAN, Qatar : Brazil’s team of superstars were left ruing what might have been and flexing every sinew of stoicism on Friday after a heart-breaking World Cup quarter-final loss on penalties to Croatia which left them sobbing on the turf.