World Cup live: Brazil crash out as Morocco prepare for semi-final
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, even as he received support from the great Pele.
Brazil suffered more knockout pain as Croatia stunned the South Americans 4-2 on penalties on Friday to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the second time in a row after battling back from a goal down in extra time.
After the 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."
Neymar equalled Pele's record tally of 77 goals for Brazil with a brilliant strike on Friday but Bruno Petkovic levelled with minutes remaining.
Croatia v Brazil ratings
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CROATIA RATINGS: Dominik Livakovic 9: Saved well from Vinicius Junior, Neymar and Lucas Paqueta. Rounded by Neymar for the goal but made a vital save to deny Casemiro in final moments. Outfoxed Rodrygo to make a key save in the shootout. AP -
Josip Juranovic 9: Did a superb job keeping Vinicius Junior quiet. Also had some great moments when roaming forward. Made a key tackle to stop Rodrygo running through in the latter stages and blocked his cross moments later. Getty -
Dejan Lovren 8: Had plenty of good moments defensively but got away with a careless pass that was cut out by Lucas Paqueta. Made a big tackle in extra time and helped to lift his team after they went behind. AP -
Josko Gvardiol 8: Made potentially awkward situations look easy at times. The defender was saved by Livakovic when his touch went goalward then made a brilliant block moments later. Couldn’t cut out Brazil’s intricate passes as they scored the game’s only goal. EPA -
Borna Sosa 7: Didn’t get forward as much as Juranovic but did a brilliant job of matching Raphinha, who was hooked early in second half. Struggled a bit after the game entered extra time and couldn’t keep up with Neymar as the Brazil attacker scored. EPA -
Mateo Kovacic 8: Showed his intent from the off with a good driving run and maintained that intensity. Even after a poor touch, he reached the ball ahead of Richarlison as he went on to show plenty of quality on the ball. PA -
Marcelo Brozovic 7: While he got away with an aimless pass that was picked up by Raphinha and was needlessly booked for pulling back Neymar, Brozovic did a brilliant job of breaking up Brazil’s play. EPA -
Luka Modric 8: Had a quiet start with a poor pass that was intercepted by Raphinha, but he sparked into life after pickpocketing Casemiro and began dictating the play for Croatia. Sent Alisson the wrong way with his penalty in the shoot-out. EPA -
Mario Pasalic 7: Competed well in attack and defence. Delivered a great cross for Perisic’s opportunity and showed intelligent movement at times. AP -
Andrej Kramaric 6: Showed a willingness to work for the team but was disappointing in an attacking sense in the first half. Got involved in some nice passages of play and held the ball up well after the break. AFP -
Ivan Perisic 6: Helped out defensively and had some good moments in the build-up but was wasteful when opportunities came, lashing at Pasalic’s cross and firing horribly off target after cutting inside Eder Militao. Enjoyed a tasty battle with Antony after the Manchester United winger came. Reuters -
SUBS: Nikola Vlasic (On for Palasic 72') 7: Provided plenty of energy and a willingness to work for the team, driving forward brilliantly in the build-up to the equaliser. Confidently scored his penalty with a strike down the middle. AP -
Bruno Petkovic (On for Kramaric 72') 7: Held up the ball well and played some nice passes. Got back brilliantly to stop Casemiro taking a late shot. Scored the last-gasp leveller as his strike deflected off Marquinhos and past Alisson. Getty -
Lovro Majer (On for Kovacic 105') 6: Showed an immediate willingness to get on the ball and found Petkovic with a cross into the box. Hit an ambitious effort wide. Another who scored by hitting his penalty down the middle. Getty -
Ante Budimir (On for Sosa 110') N/A. AP -
Mislav Orsic (On for Brozovic 114’) – N/A. Stuck his shoot-out penalty right in the corner. Getty -
BRAZIL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 6: Didn’t make the heroic saves of the South Korea game, but secure as Croatia started so well. Then quiet until he couldn’t stretch far enough to save Croatia’s equaliser. First two penalties went down the middle past him, the next two to his right. AP -
Eder Militao 6: Croatia were right onto him pressing for the first 20 minutes. More attacking at the start of the second. Had an 85th minute shot deflected wide. Getty -
Marquinhos 6: Booked. Croatia’s goal deflected off him. Hit his penalty against the post. He looked devastated at the end. Getty -
Thiago Silva 7: Passed to Neymar, who then set on his run to score and equal Pele’s 77 goal record for Brazil. Was well positioned to face the shot which led to Croatia’s equaliser, but how could he deal with the deflection?. AFP -
Danilo 6: Really pressed by Croatia in the first 20 minutes. A challenging night for him. Getty -
Lucas Paqueta 7: Croatia had early success passing Brazil’s 4-2-4 formation. Shot well saved by the excellent Livakovic. Another shot ten minutes from end of normal time was also saved. Assisted Neymar for the goal. AP -
Casemiro 7: Hard for him as he was closed down as soon as he got the ball, then tried to push the game further up the field. Tackled, passed and got booked for his efforts on 66. Buried his penalty. Reuters -
Raphinha 5: Limited influence in the first half where he saw little of the ball. An off day. They happen. EPA -
Neymar 6: Shackled wherever he went, his 41st minute free-kick was deflected towards goal, but was little threat. Had chance saved on 55 as Brazil got on top. Poor … and then he did what the very best players can do and should have won the game for Brazil with an incredible goal. AP -
Vinicius Junior 5: Strong start but then quiet in the first half. Overtaken by Joranovic at one point – not something you often see. Mediocre. AFP -
Richarlison 6: His best move was to set up Neymar after in second half with a turn. Made runs and got into the game in the second half when he put a couple of balls in for Neymar, but tightly marked by Gvardiol. EPA -
SUBS: Antony (On for Raphinha 64') 8: Brought immediate energy and skill down the right, best shown on 80 minutes to set up Paqueta. Weak shot on target after 93 but caused a lot of problems. Getty -
Rodrygo (On for Vicnicius Junior 64') 6: Involved in Neymar’s goal, but had his penalty – Brazil’s first, saved. It was a poor one. AP -
Pedro (On for Richarlison 84') 7: Straight into the attacked but blocked by Lovren. Calm for his penalty after staggering his run up. AP -
Fred (On for Paqueta 105') 6: Brought on to preserve Brazil’s lead. Failed. PA -
Alex Sandro (On for Militao 105') 6: Fresh legs deep into a draining game. AP
Rodrygo's effort was saved by Dominik Livakovic and Marquinhos hit the post, while Croatia scored all four of their efforts to win the shootout. Four years ago in Russia, Neymar and Brazil suffered elimination at the same stage at the hands of Belgium.
"It is an awful feeling, I think this is a worse feeling than what happened at the last World Cup," said Neymar. "It is difficult to find the words to describe this moment.
"We fought and I am proud of my teammates, proud of the character they showed to step up and take penalties."
While there was despair in Brazil, Neymar did receive support. Pele congratulated Neymar for matching his national team scoring record, and then commiserated with the player for his World Cup exit.
Pele, who has been hospitalised while being treated for a respiratory infection, posted his message on Instagram after Brazil's defeat.
“I saw you grow, I cheered for you every day and I can finally congratulate you for reaching my number of goals with Brazil. We both know that this is more than a figure,” the 82-year-old Pele wrote. “Our biggest duty as athletes is to inspire. Inspire our teammates of today, the next generations and, above all, everyone who loves our sport.
“Unfortunately this is not the happiest day for us,” he added. “My record was set almost 50 years ago, and nobody had managed to get near it until now. You got there, kid. That shows how great your achievement is.”
Meanwhile, Tite confirmed that it was the "end of a cycle" for him as coach of Brazil.
The 61-year-old, who has been in charge since 2016, had previously made it no secret that he would leave the position after the tournament in Qatar, regardless of the outcome.
"It is a painful defeat but I go in peace. It is the end of a cycle," he said.
"I already said that a year and a half ago. I didn't come here to win and then turn around and say I was going to stay. People who know me know that."
