Brazil hit high gear with Neymar again within the line-up to brush apart South Korea 4-1 on Monday and ease into the quarter-finals of the World Cup the place they may face Croatia. Neymar had been sidelined for 2 matches with a sprained ankle however with the world’s most costly participant restored to their facet, Brazil’s yellow shirts poured ahead at Stadium 974. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring inside seven minutes earlier than Neymar added one other from the penalty spot to maneuver to 76 targets for his nation, leaving him only one away from equalling Pele’s all-time document tally.
The ailing Pele watched from his hospital mattress in Sao Paulo the place the 82-year-old was admitted final Tuesday amid ongoing remedy for colon most cancers.
He may have loved Richarlison’s dazzling aim to make it 3-0 earlier than Lucas Paqueta added one other earlier than half-time, all celebrated with dance routines as Brazil’s supporters roared their approval.
Paik Seung-ho pulled a aim again for the Koreans when the Brazilians took their foot off the pedal, however their ideas had already turned to Friday’s quarter-final conflict with 2018 runners-up Croatia.
It was the primary time that Brazil had scored 4 targets in a World Cup knockout recreation since 1998 and the efficiency rapped out a warning to their rivals that they’ve a sixth title of their sights.
“We’re dreaming of successful the title, that is apparent, however we have now to go step-by-step,” Neymar stated.
He admitted he had feared at one level that he wouldn’t play once more within the match after injuring his ankle in Brazil’s opening recreation in opposition to Serbia.
“Once I acquired injured I spent a really troublesome night time. I used to be pondering of one million various things.”
Livakovic Croatia’s hero
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero for Croatia within the day’s different last-16 tie, saving three penalties within the shootout as his facet beat Japan to achieve the final eight.
Japan had already overwhelmed European heavyweights Germany and Spain in Qatar and so they seemed on monitor to take down 2018 runners-up Croatia when Daizen Maeda put them forward simply earlier than half-time.
However Ivan Perisic introduced Croatia stage within the fifty fifth minute with a formidable header from Dejan Lovren’s cross and a hard-fought match turned the primary of this World Cup to enter further time.
When neither facet might break the impasse, the tie additionally produced the primary penalty shootout of Qatar 2022.
It continued a exceptional sample — seven of Croatia’s previous eight knockout video games at main tournaments have gone to further time, the one exception being their defeat within the last by France in Russia 4 years in the past.
In nail-biting rigidity, Livakovic saved the primary Japan two spot-kicks earlier than stopping Maya Yoshida’s effort, then Mario Pasalic struck the successful penalty to ship Croatia by.
Livakovic, the hero of the hour, stated: “I do not suppose they have been troublesome penalties to avoid wasting, they weren’t excellent penalties, and thank God for that.”
Croatia captain Luka Modric stated: “Plainly we will not do it with no drama.
“We’re very happy to achieve the quarter-finals. It was a really troublesome recreation in opposition to a really powerful group.”
Japan ahead Ritsu Doan gave a frank evaluation of his nation’s efficiency: “Irrespective of how effectively we fought at present, we did not change historical past.”
Three-quarters of the quarter-final line-up is now set, with Argentina going through the Netherlands on Friday, the identical day Brazil play Croatia.
England face the daunting prospect of taking over holders France on Saturday.
Spain will likely be seeking to e-book their place within the final eight after they face a harmful Morocco facet on Tuesday, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo’s Spain play Switzerland.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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