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DOHA — Croatia stunned favourites Brazil to reach the World Cup semifinals on Friday, winning 4-2 on penalties after a nailbiting last-eight tie finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.

Marquinhos missed the crucial spot-kick in the shoot-out, hitting the post when he had to score to keep Brazil in it after Rodrygo’s earlier attempt had been saved by goal keeper Dominik Livakovic and Croatia converted all four penalties.

It was a remarkable turnaround after Brazil had looked set for victory when Neymar opened the scoring with a wonderful strike midway through extra time that allowed him to equal Pele’s Brazilian record of 77 international goals.

But Bruno Petkovic hit back at the other end in the 117th minute for Croatia to force a shoot-out, and Zlatko Dalic’s team followed up their win over Japan on penalties in the last round with this victory, which must go down as their greatest ever triumph.

They advance to the semifinals, while Brazil will have to wait at least another four years before winning a record-extending sixth title.

Neymar had fired Brazil into the lead at the end of the first half of extra-time, working one-twos with Rodrygo and Lucas Paqueta before rounding goalkeeper Livakovic to score.

But it did not break Croatia’s resistance as the 2018 World Cup finalists hit back to level.

Brazil had never played with the same attacking flair as in their last-16 win over South Korea.

Croatia was as obdurate and difficult to break down as ever, and they have now gone to extra time in eight of their last nine major tournament knockout matches, with the exception being their defeat to France in the World Cup final four years ago.

It was never going to be easy for Brazil to play with the same freedom and joy as in its demolition of South Korea, when it celebrated their goals with choreographed dance moves that seemed to upset some onlookers.

Fear of losing

But the challenge for Brazil coach Tite’s side — given the huge pressure that is always on the Brazilian national team at a World Cup — was to not let the fear of losing remove all that joy.

The stakes get higher as the tournament progresses and Brazil came into Friday’s game at Doha’s Education City Stadium looking to avoid falling into another trap set by an accomplished European side.

Brazil had been knocked out of the last four World Cups at either this stage or in the semifinals, every time by European opposition.

Croatia may be a nation of just 4 million people but they got to the final four years ago and Luka Modric, their inspiration then, remains one of the finest players on the planet at 37.

It turns out that a midfield three of Modric, Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic and Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic can hold its own against Brazil too.

It seemed as if they were heading for defeat when Neymar broke the deadlock, but Croatia showed all their resilience to equalise when Petkovic applied a first-time finish to a low centre by fellow substitute Mislav Orsic.

Then came penalties, and Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Modric and Orsic all converted for Croatia, while Rodrygo and Marquinhos came up short.

Neymar, supposed to take Brazil’s final kick, did not get the chance, and his tournament ended in tears.

DOHA — Luka Modric said before arriving in Qatar that this World Cup would likely be his last major tournament and he has again orchestrated another deep run for Croatia.

The veteran midfielder’s side will face their biggest challenge yet when they take on Brazil in the quarter-finals on Friday.

The five-time champions sent out a warning to their fellow title hopefuls with a wonderful first-half display in their 4-1 victory over South Korea in the last 16.

But Croatia, the 2018 World Cup finalists, are likely to pose a far tougher test for the Selecao — seven of their past eight major tournament knockout ties have gone to extra time.

Modric is still the heartbeat of the team and coach Zlatko Dalic has said he expects the 37-year-old to be involved at next year’s Nations League finals.

But the Real Madrid midfielder does not see himself playing at a fifth World Cup, 20 years after his first, in 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“I’m aware that I’m of a certain age and that this is my last competition in the Croatian national team,” he told FIFA before the tournament.

Modric still toils selflessly in midfield but was clearly fading when he was substituted in extra-time of Croatia’s last-16 win over Japan on penalties.

The Balkan nation will be counting on him to dig deep again, though, as he looks to replicate the form that helped Croatia reach the final in Moscow in 2018, where they lost 4-2 to France.

“When you see people like Luka Modric running and dying on the pitch, it gives us younger players extra energy to run,” said full-back Josip Juranovic.

Modric is a hero in his home nation after a 16-year international career in which he has made 159 appearances.

His trophy cabinet includes five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Humble beginnings

Modric broke Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10-year grip on the Ballon d’Or in 2018, when he also won the World Cup player of the tournament award.

Modric grew up during Croatia’s war of independence, between 1991 and 1995, during which his hometown, Zadar, and the surrounding region were heavily shelled by Serb forces.

Those experiences shaped Modric’s character and made him mentally strong, according to those close to him.

“It happened a million times that we were going to training as the shells were falling, and we were running to shelters,” said childhood friend Marijan Buljat, who trained and played with Modric while growing up.

“It is certainly one of the factors that contributed... that drove him to become one of the best in the world.”

Modric’s grandfather, after whom Luka was named, was killed by Serb forces, the house was burned out and the family fled to Zadar, 40 kilometres away.

“I’m sad that he [grandfather] didn’t get to see at least something of what I’ve achieved,” Modric told FIFA.

It was in Zadar that Modric, born in 1985, began his footballing odyssey, catching the eye.

“I heard about a little hyperactive boy constantly playing with a football in the corridor of a refugee hotel, even going to sleep with it,” said Josip Bajlo, who was then coach at NK Zadar.

Modric left Zadar as a teenager for Dinamo Zagreb and moved to Premier League club Tottenham in 2008, where he stayed for four years before moving to Spain.

Trees now grow inside the roofless ruin of his grandparents’ house, in the hinterland of the coastal town of Zadar.

“Mines — Keep out!” warns a sign next to the house, lying on a mountain road winding through the Modrici hamlet.

Its most famous son will be hoping to extend his final bid for World Cup glory on Friday.

LOS ANGELES — Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 116-102 NBA victory on Tuesday over a Los Angeles Lakers team that clearly missed the firepower of ailing Anthony Davis.

Star centre Davis had scored 99 points in the Lakers’ last two games, including a 55-point outburst in a victory over the Wizards in Washington on Sunday.

However, he played just eight minutes in Cleveland before calling it a night with flu-like symptoms, and Mitchell and the Cavs took full advantage to improve their impressive home record to 11-1.

LeBron James scored 21 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough against the team where he started his NBA career in 2003, and that he led to a championship in 2016 when he returned after winning two titles with Miami.

James was cheered when the Cavaliers played a tribute video during an early time out and Mitchell, who arrived in Cleveland via a trade from Utah in September, was struck by the moment.

“It’s well-deserved,” Mitchell said. “He’s one of the greatest players of all time.”

But James’s return trip to his native Ohio was overshadowed by the loss of Davis, who had averaged 34.2 points and 15.4 rebounds over his past 10 games as the Lakers began to turn their season around.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Davis wanted to “give it a go”, even as his symptoms, including a fever, worsened during the evening.

Even without him, the Lakers managed to keep it close, trailing by five with less than five minutes to play.

But Mitchell converted a three-point play to launch a 10-0 Cavaliers scoring run.

He came up with a steal and made a pair of free throws and Jarrett Allen’s steal on the Lakers’ next possession led to Caris LeVert’s fastbreak layup.

Mitchell capped the run with a step-back three-pointer. By the end of the game the cheers of Cleveland fans were for him, not James. And despite his admiration for the Lakers star, Mitchell admitted he was happy to “spoil the homecoming”.

Allen returned for Cleveland after missing five games with a low back contusion and made a quick impact, scoring 22 of his 24 points in the first half.

Darius Garland added 21 points and handed out 11 assists for the Cavs.

Mavs edge Nuggets

In Denver, 17 three-pointers and another triple-double gem from Luka Doncic were enough to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 116-115 victory over the Nuggets.

Doncic scored 22 points with 10 rebounds and 12 assists and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 29 points, connecting on six of his eight three-point attempts.

Hardaway’s layup with 4:07 remaining put the Mavs up 111-101, but the Nuggets erased the 10-point deficit and took a one-point lead on Bruce Brown’s off-balance three-pointer with 37.9 seconds remaining.

Dorian Finney-Smith responded with a three-pointer off a feed from Doncic that put the Mavericks up for good with 17.3 seconds left.

In Miami, Detroit forward Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 of his 31 points in the second half as the Pistons thumped the Heat 116-96.

Heat guard Tyler Herro led all scorers with 34 points, but 21 of those came in the first half and the Heat — with Jimmy Butler sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back as he manages a right knee injury — couldn’t find an answer as the Pistons pulled away late.

Morocco's defender Achraf Hakimi (2nd right) celebrates with teammates after converting the last penalty during the penalty shootout to win the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 match against Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Tuesday

DOHA — Croatia captain Luka Modric said his team “can’t do it without a drama” after they reached the World Cup quarterfinals following a penalty shootout win against Japan on Monday.

Mario Pasalic struck the winning spot-kick after Dominik Livakovic saved three penalties.

Earlier, Ivan Perisic had pulled Croatia level in the 55th minute of normal time following Daizen Maeda’s opener for Japan just before the break.

But no side could find a winner either in 90 minutes or in extra-time as it finished 1-1.

“It seems that we can’t do it without a drama,” Modric, whose team were beaten finalists in 2018, said. “We are more than happy to reach the quarter-finals.

“It was a very difficult game against a very tough team.”

The match in Qatar continues a pattern for Croatia.

Seven of their past eight knockout games at major tournaments have gone to extra time, the only exception being their final defeat by France in Russia four years ago.

Modric said Croatia had not played at its top level but had found a way to win.

“We showed character when we came back from the deficit... Livi [Livakovic] performed a miracle today. A very tough, exhausting match.”

Coach Zlatko Dalic said reaching the last eight was a “major result”.

“Don’t ever underestimate a Croatian,” he said. “Whenever this happens, one regrets it. We are going all the way.”

This will likely be the last chance to win the World Cup for a talented but ageing generation of Croatian players.

“We showed that we are of the level necessary to go far. We have finished third [in 1998] and second and now we are in the quarters,” Dalic said.

“We have earned the right to hope for great results... we won’t give up, we will keep fighting to achieve our World Cup dream.”

Dalic’s team will next face either Brazil, seeking their sixth world crown, or South Korea and he is convinced his team can prevail regardless of who wins that match later on Monday.

“If I could choose I would choose South Korea, but if it’s Brazil then never mind. Let’s give our best and play our hearts out for the win,” Dalic added. 

“The players don’t give up, they reflect the spirit of the Croatian people. We have been through so much pain... the whole of Croatia looks to them.”

Tradition

Livakovic said that he was continuing a Croatian tradition after his penalty shoot-out heroics.

Croatia won twice on penalties during its run to the 2018 final and prevailed again at Al Janoub Stadium.

“I continued the tradition of my predecessor [Danijel Subasic]. I think it is more instinct than any analysis of the takers you have in front of you,” he told reporters.

“I don’t think they were difficult penalties to save, they weren’t perfect penalties, and thank God for that.”

He added: “It’s a great feeling... Thank God all ended well... This is the most cherished moment in my career.”

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu praised Livakovic for his display, choosing to focus on the saves rather than the poor penalties taken by Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida.

“I don’t think we succumbed to the pressure, I think the goalkeeper was great,” he said.

“Japan’s players played 120 minutes bravely and the players who took penalty kicks were also courageous.

“Of course we wanted to win and the result is very unfortunate but... it does not negate the effort of the players. They should be confident they can play on world stage. They showed how good they can play in the World Cup.”

DOHA — Brazil’s players paid tribute to legend Pele, who is receiving hospital treatment in Sao Paulo due to his ailing health, after sauntering to a 4-1 World Cup victory over South Korea.

Following Monday’s last-16 match at Stadium 974 in Doha, the players unfurled a huge banner to the 82-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

First-half goals from Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta saw Brazil put the game to bed long before Paik Seung-ho’s stunning consolation in the second period.

“It’s hard to talk about what Pele is going through right now but I wish him all the best,” said Neymar, who made his return from an ankle injury to play most of the game.

“I hope he will be back in good health as soon as possible and that we could have at least comforted him with the victory,” Neymar told Globo.

Pele’s battle with colon cancer is providing motivation for the players to try to win a record-extending sixth world title — the first three of which Pele was part of.

“He needs a lot of strength from us and this victory is for him, so that he can come out of this situation and that we can be champions for him,” said Vinicius.

‘I was afraid’

Neymar’s return gave Brazil a huge boost and they were on fire right from the first minute.

His 13th minute goal from the penalty spot took Neymar to within one goal of Pele’s record 77 strikes for Brazil.

But he admitted there had been moments after he was injured in Brazil’s opening World Cup match against Serbia that he thought his tournament might be over.

“When I got injured I spent a very difficult night. I was thinking of a million different things,” said Neymar, who added he had been “crying a lot”.

“I was afraid of not being able to play in this World Cup again but I had the support of all my teammates and my family who gave me strength.”

Richarlison paid tribute to the team’s talisman, saying Neymar’s very presence on the pitch makes the game easier for everyone else.

“I’m very happy about the return of Neymar. On the pitch he drags away two or three players creating space for the others,” said Richarlison, who now has three goals in the tournament.

“Neymar provides a competitive advantage, he makes the difference on the pitch — he’s the driving force,” added assistant coach Cesar Sampaio.

Richarlison also praised coach Tite’s decision to rest almost the entire first team in their last group stage match, a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon after its progress to the knock-out stages was already secure.

“We played with intensity from the first minute and that was because we rested a part of the team in the last match, so you have to give credit to the boss,” said Richarlison.

Tite’s numerous changes meant he has now given the entire 26-man squad some action at the tournament, with even third-choice goalkeeper Weverton playing the last 10 minutes against Korea.

“The game was practically over when I came on, but no goalkeeper likes to concede a goal,” he quipped.

DOHA — Spain’s hopes of winning a second World Cup trophy in Qatar lie in the hands — and feet — of goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Luis Enrique’s possession-based system demands a goalkeeper brave enough to distribute to nearby teammates, even when under immense pressure from opposition forwards.

Sometimes it goes woefully wrong, but the coach has kept his faith in Simon, no matter the criticism received after errors.

Simon survived scares against Germany in the 1-1 group stage draw, while he was at fault for Japan’s first goal in its shock 2-1 win over Spain on Thursday.

With Spain losing, for a few minutes La Roja were due to be eliminated.

They dodged that bullet when Germany triumphed, progressing in second place from Group E to set up Tuesday’s last 16 clash with Morocco.

Japan laid the blueprint for the North African nation to follow, with Spain malfunctioning completely when the Samurai Blue overloaded their system.

“They scored two against us, and if they had needed two more, then they would have scored them too, I’m sure,“ said coach Luis Enrique after the game.

With Spain 1-0 up and cruising against Japan at the start of the second half, Simon played the ball out to Alejandro Balde, who was immediately pressed and lost possession.

Ritsu Doan drove the loose ball past Simon at his near post from the edge of the box.

Simon got a hand on it and might have kept it out, with some claiming Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea would have saved the shot.

ITV pundit Gary Neville claimed Simon seemed “a real weak point” for La Roja, later advocating for De Gea.

However, he was never likely to be selected, with Luis Enrique bringing David Raya from Brentford and Robert Sanchez of Brighton as Simon’s back-ups, two goalkeepers more comfortable with the ball at their feet — and who create fewer headlines.

They will have low expectations of featuring, with Luis Enrique making it clear that the 25-year-old is his No 1.

“If Unai didn’t play well with his feet, he couldn’t be the goalkeeper of the national team,“ said Luis Enrique after Spain’s draw with Germany.

“Unai Simon has everything Spain’s goalkeeper needs.”

Comfortable

Luis Enrique says when Simon errs it does not worry him, as long as he is carrying out the plan set for him.

The coach’s explanations won over the Athletic Bilbao stopper, who emerged after Kepa Arrizabalaga left for Chelsea for a world record £71 million (87 million euro) fee for a goalkeeper.

He established himself in 2019 with Athletic, making his Spain debut a year later and being selected at Euro 2020.

Against Croatia, Simon let Pedri’s back-pass slip past his foot for a spectacular own goal, but redeemed himself with penalty saves against Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for Spain he could not repeat the trick against Italy in the semis and the Azzurri progressed.

Keeping hold of the No 1 jersey through that tournament ensured Simon bought further into Luis Enrique’s way of playing.

“For me, it’s not a risk,“ said Simon ahead of the Japan clash.

“This national team has known how to solve these situations multiple times, and that’s how it will be.

“That’s the idea that the coach wants, and he’s convinced me of it, and I am comfortable with it.”

Luis Enrique hinted his team might work on being a little more pragmatic with longer passes, accepting the Japan loss as a warning.

“If against Morocco we have the fortune to go in front, Morocco will risk it all at full pelt again,“ said the coach.

“This has to serve as a warning that this is going to happen.”

Then again, given the coach’s belief in his system, he may even ask Simon to double down on the existing strategy.

“It could generate a tense situation, and the pressure will keep increasing in the knock-out games,“ added Simon.

“This is how the national team plays. I’ve got used to playing like this, I’m confident in playing like this, and all the team is confident in me.”

DOHA — Croatia’s squad features only a few of the players which led them to the World Cup final in 2018, runners-up to France, but Luka Modric is defying time to be one of those few constants.

The 37-year-old Real Madrid midfielder worked tirelessly across the full 90 minutes of the 0-0 draw with Belgium on Thursday to book Croatia’s place in the last 16, where they face Japan on Monday.

The captain leads by example, showing the younger players what is possible and how much effort achieving it takes.

If the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, with five Champions League titles to his name, still toils selflessly in midfield, there can be no excuses for anyone else not to follow suit.

Croatia defender Josip Juranovic believes Modric is setting an example to the squad’s younger players to fend off World Cup fatigue.

“In my tank, my reservoir [of gas] is full,” the Celtic defender told a press conference Saturday.

“It is a World Cup — we may only get [to be part of] this once in our lifetime.

“I can’t wait for the game to start. When you see people like Luka Modric running and dying on the pitch, it gives us younger players extra energy to run.

“We have a great combination of experience and younger players in the team.”

Croatia finished second in Group F and Juranovic, 27, played 90 minutes in all three games, while Modric also played 90 minutes against Morocco in the goalless opener, and 86 against Canada, in the team’s thumping 4-1 win.

In the Belgium and Morocco games, Modric was awarded man of the match.

Even though some of his contributions are subtle, and thankless at times, they have been rewarded in Qatar, not that his teammates need any reminders of his quality.

Asked about Croatia’s winning mentality, midfielder Lovro Majer said it was innate, but also down to older players like Modric offering years of experience to the team.

“We have a winning mentality in our blood,” said Majer on Saturday.

“I think we have an excellent mix of experienced players who have done excellent things in their careers and younger players with new energy.

“A combination of something that’s innate and that mix of experience and youth.”

Sitting beside him at Croatia’s training hub in Doha, Juranovic agreed.

“When you have world class players playing at the highest level for 10 years, that helps a lot, so we believe we can turn around any situation on the pitch,” said the defender.

New energy

Modric is among the tournaments best passers, driving Croatia up the pitch with clever balls, while maintaining his defensive discipline.

The former Tottenham player has made several important interceptions, presses well and is also capable of deciding when to drop deeper alongside Marcelo Brozovic.

Perhaps what helps keep Modric running, fighting and competing at an elite level is his mindset.

The midfielder spoke to reporters at the start of the tournament and said the glory of reaching the final four years ago in Moscow was irrelevant now.

“Whatever we’ve been through during the 2018 World Cup was an unforgettable experience but we need to put it aside and focus on what is ahead of us,” said Modric.

“Many players from Russia are not here. We have new players, fresh blood and new energy.

“We also have some veteran players who have helped the young ones adjust. This is a new tournament and we have to look at it this way.”

Since gaining independence in 1991, Croatia have only missed the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

In 1998 they went on a surprise run to the semifinals, where they were beaten by France.

Les Bleus were again their executioners in 2018, and if they face France in this tournament, it would mean they have reached the final.

Modric will have to cover a lot more ground before that can happen, starting against Japan on Monday.

DOHA — Brazil heads into Monday’s World Cup last-16 tie against South Korea preoccupied by the health of the great Pele and with coach Tite wondering whether to recall the Selecao’s current No. 10 Neymar after an ankle injury.

Tite used his press conference prior to Friday’s final group game against Cameroon to wish Pele a speedy recovery after the all-time great was admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo during the week.

The three-time World Cup winner, now aged 82, has been undergoing a “re-evaluation” of the chemotherapy he had following surgery to remove a colon tumour in September last year.

Brazil fans also unfurled a banner with a get well soon message for Pele ahead of the Cameroon game, which the Selecao lost 1-0 as it went down to its first defeat in the group stage since 1998.

There would be no better way for Brazil to pay tribute to their greatest ever player than by going on to win a record-extending sixth World Cup on December 18, and the draw appears to have opened up favourably for them.

They topped their section despite scoring just three goals in three games in Qatar, their worst showing in front of goal in the group stage of a World Cup since 1978.

Brazil has a fearsome range of attacking options, even with Gabriel Jesus having gone home injured, but they have scored just once since Neymar came off with a sprained ankle in its opening 2-0 win over Serbia on November 24.

He watched the Cameroon game from just behind the Brazilian bench at the Lusail Stadium and on Saturday he was back training with his teammates, raising hopes he would be on the field against the Koreans.

“I feel good, I knew that I would now,” he wrote on Instagram on Saturday with a reference to James Brown.

“With his return the whole team will improve,” said Richarlison, scorer of both goals against Serbia, on Friday.

“I hope he comes back. Everyone saw how much we missed him in the last two games. I think him coming back will make me better.”

On paper Brazil could surely not have asked for a kinder draw at this stage than South Korea, which qualified for the last 16 thanks to a last-gasp winner by Hwang Hee-chan against Portugal.

If they win at Doha’s Stadium 974 they will advance to a quarter-final against Japan or Croatia, with a last-four showdown against great rivals Argentina still on the cards.

Korea was the second lowest-ranked side to make the knockout stage and Paulo Bento’s side have recent experience of how chastening an experience it can be to take on Brazil.

The teams met in a friendly in Seoul in June and Brazil romped to a 5-1 victory with Neymar scoring two penalties.

“They are an aggressive and strong team. We can’t afford to make mistakes,” warned Richarlison, who was also on target in that friendly clash.

Brazil is desperate to rediscover the form in front of goal that saw them score a remarkable 26 times in their seven games preceding the tournament, but aside from Neymar they have injury concerns in defence.

Yet, the reality is that whoever plays will be expected to be too strong for South Korea, even if in Son Heung-min the Asian upstarts have their own superstar attacker.