Croatia Sends Brazil Packing, As They Advance To Semi-Finals Of The2022 World Cup

2018 World Cup finalist, Croatia stuns five-time world champions and tournament favourites Brazil in a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win to book a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

Dominik Livakovic was the star of the show for Croatia, with his 11 saves setting a new record for a Croatian goalkeeper at a World Cup match with the game ending goalless after 90 minutes.

Tite's men thought they had won it in extra time when Neymar scored a sensational goal to equal Pele's record of 77 goals for Brazil, a record held by the legendary striker for 51-years.

But substitute Bruno Petkovic had other ideas, stroking in a 116th-minute dramatic equaliser with Croatia's first shot on target in the match to take the game to the penalty shootout.

Croatia scored with all four of their spot-kicks as Rodrygo taking Brazil's first kick - was denied by the brilliant Livakovic and Marquinhos' crucial fourth effort struck the post.

As the ball hit the foot of the woodwork and bounced away, Croatia's team sprinted to celebrate with their goalkeeper, while the Brazil players hit the turf, knowing their dream of a sixth crown had come to an end.

The European side emerged victorious to the semi-finals, having done so by the same method against Japan in the round-of-16, to 

Croatia will now face the winner of the second quarter-final tie between Netherlands or Argentina later tonight.