Modric’s moves help Croatia eliminate Brazil from World Cup
AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — The slippery hips of Luka Modric wriggled away from hazard. The laser-like precision of his passing — and the intelligence to manage the tempo for lengthy intervals — have been ever current, as is common.
There was the customary adjustment of his hairband right here, a tug of his captain’s armband there.
It was the total repertoire from one in every of soccer’s most interesting midfield maestros, and all of it helped Croatia put an finish to the dancing Brazilians and knock one of many largest favorites out of the World Cup.
Modric and his teammates made it again into the semifinals at soccer’s largest match on Friday, beating Brazil 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw via further time.
“It would be very difficult to find someone at the age of 37 with such performance, with such strength when he plays for Real Madrid and the national team and Luka Modric has proven his quality,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić mentioned. “When he came to the World Cup people began writing him off and then he came back in his best light, on the top of his game and he brought Croatia into the semifinals.”
It wasn’t all “the beautiful game” that Brazil made so well-known throughout the days of Pele, nevertheless. In stoppage time, with the sport nonetheless goalless, Modric fouled Rodrygo, sending the Brazil ahead to the bottom simply as he was about to interrupt free.
This Croatia staff, 4 years after reaching the World Cup last and dropping to France, retains in search of a option to win.
The match at Education City Stadium was Croatia’s fourth attract 5 matches in Qatar. The staff hasn’t been essentially the most thrilling to observe at this 12 months’s match, however Dalić’s gamers produce some drama.
When Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic equalized within the 117th minute, it was the staff’s first shot on track. It got here not lengthy after Neymar had scored on the very finish of the primary half of additional time — transferring him right into a tie with Pele for essentially the most objectives scored for Brazil’s nationwide staff.
Naturally, Modric was central to the second that turned the match on its head, showcasing his energy and composure to carry off a problem from Casemiro earlier than passing to Nikola Vlasic.
The ball was moved out extensive to Mislav Orisic, and his cross was transformed by Petkovic.
Fans of each groups have been shocked.
Petkovic tore off his shirt in celebration earlier than being mobbed by teammates on the sector and from the bench. Croatia had succeeded in making it to a second straight penalty shootout after needing spot kicks to remove Japan within the spherical of 16.
Modric, after all, transformed his penalty, as did his teammates. Rodrygo’s shot was saved by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, and Marquinhos later hit the submit. Neymar wasn’t among the many 4 Brazilians to participate within the shootout.
Of Croatia’s 5 pictures on track within the match, together with the 4 penalties within the shootout, the staff scored 5 objectives.
Neymar, who tied Pele’s file as his nation’s main scorer with 77 objectives, couldn’t maintain again the tears on the finish. Rodrygo, Modric’s teammate at Real Madrid, was inconsolable, too.
The pair embraced when it was over, that earlier problem a reminiscence and Modric nonetheless with extra magic to make in Qatar.
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