2022 World Cup: eliminated by Croatia, Brazil has gone from dance to tears

Despite a goal from Neymar, the Seleçao bowed on penalties (1-1, 4-2 at T.A.B.) facing a team that has become the specialist of the genre. The Croats will face Argentina on Tuesday for a place in the final.

by Alexandre Pedro (Doha, Special Envoy)

No choreography this time. No pigeon dance or another volatile, the dream of the Seleçao of a sixth world star has definitely took lead in the wing. It never rains in Doha, but the tears of Neymar and its partners water the central round of the lawn of the Cité de l’Eddivail stadium this Friday, December 9. The favorite of this World Cup fell from above, from the quarter-finals, eliminated by remarkable Croats of Solidarity for 120 minutes and still of an icy composure in the exercise of penalties (1-1 A.P. , 4-2).

prostrated at the penalty spot, Marquinhos again and again see her shot hit the post. The image refers to cursed European evenings with Paris-Saint-Germain, ghosts of “Rontoda”. Football is sometimes cruel when he chooses a charming boy doubled with a great defender to embody the misfortune of a country.

“Marqui” had advanced in fourth shooter, before Neymar. Some see it as a fault and yet another sin of pride, that of a star who wanted to keep the beautiful role. There are as many theories as possible “pénos” failures in the place to be attributed to its best specialist in the exercise. His coach, Tite, defends this option with admissible arguments. “The fifth shot on goal was decisive, there was more pressure, it was necessary the best mentally prepared player to take this last penalty,” says the one who leaves his duties, as announced for a long time.

“They marked on their only shot on framed”

At 30, Neymar does not yet know if his dream of a world title has passed. The Parisian has already issued the idea of ​​a last lap in the World Cup. “I do not know if I will still have the condition, the mind, to support even more football,” he told the tournament to the Dazn streaming platform. Publishing a photo of a coat of arms from Brazil surmounted by a hypothetical sixth star was perhaps not the best idea, but it is also necessary to defend the artist Neymar, excuse him for his faults. Also remember this 105 e minute, your inspiration, its technical finesse to finish the work and finally beat Dominik Livakovic, this goalkeeper on which the balloons ricoche for almost two hours.

At this precise moment, Neymar equals the “king” peeled as top scorer in the history of his selection, with his 77 e but. Brazil then holds the victory which forges you a destiny, five days after a South Korean ballad in trompe-l’oeil (4-1). But Croatia is made of another metal; Iron and mental discipline in titanium, Luka Modric’s partners never give up. In a match where they above all (well) defended, the unhappy finalists of 2018 believed in their luck, that also of a savior out of the bench.

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