Brazil bounced from men's World Cup with upset loss to Croatia in penalties

Neymar is again going home without a World Cup title. Luka Modric's quest continues unabated.

Modric converted one of the penalties as Croatia knocked Brazil out of the men's World Cup in Qatar on Friday, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a shootout to reach the semifinals for the second straight time.

Neymar tied Pele's record for most goals for the national team, giving Brazil the lead in extra time. But he wasn't among the four Brazilian players to take a penalty in the shootout, instead reduced to tears on the field at Education City Stadium while the red-and-white clad Croatians celebrated.

"It feels like a nightmare. It's hard to believe this is happening," said Neymar, who kept his future with the national team open after the defeat.

Brazil coach Tite said he had saved his best player to take the fifth penalty.

"That's the one with the most pressure, and he would be the player with the most quality and mental preparedness to take the shot," Tite said.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved the first penalty attempt by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post. Livakovic had already produced some key stops as the teams drew 0-0 in regulation and 1-1 in extra time.

"We are raised as fighters, giving our best," Livakovic said. "And that's the recipe for success."

Croatia came from behind in every game of the knockout stage in 2018, and again in the two elimination matches it has played in Qatar.

"We have a strong character and we do not give up," Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. "We were prepared for everything today. We knew that as the game unfolded, our chances improved."

Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer and Mislav Orsic also converted their penalties for Croatia, while Casemiro and Pedro scored for Brazil.

Both goals came in the additional 30 minutes, first with Neymar scoring late in the first half of extra time to give Brazil the lead, and then with Bruno Petkovic equalizing in the 117th.

Neymar's goal moved him into a tie with Pele as Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 77 goals, but the forward again fell short of winning a major title with Brazil and had to be consoled by veteran defender Dani Alves as he cried after the match.

Croatia will next face Argentina on Tuesday to try to return to the World Cup final four years after losing the title to France. The Argentines beat the Netherlands in a shootout.

Brazil was looking to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2014. The team hadn't made it that far since hosting the tournament eight years ago, when the Selecao was embarrassed by Germany 7-1.

Brazil was trying to defeat a European opponent in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2002 final against Germany, when the team won for the last time.

Neymar, starting for the second game in a row after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in Brazil's opening match, had some of his team's best opportunities, including a couple close-range attempts saved by Livakovic.

"He was the difference on very crucial moments," Dalic said of his goalkeeper. "He was there to save us."

Neymar scored his milestone goal after dribbling past Livakovic inside the area and sending a shot into the top of the net. Brazil was a few minutes from victory when Petkovic scored with a left-footed shot that deflected off Marquinhos before getting past Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker. It was Croatia's only attempt on target, against 11 by Brazil.

"It's hard to find the words. We are upset," Casemiro said. "Especially because of how it happened, we had it in our hands. It's tough. We have to lift our heads and try to move on."

It was Brazil's last match under Tite, who had said before the World Cup began that he was not going to stay with the national team.

"It's the end of a cycle," Tite said. "The loss hurts, but I'm at peace with myself right now."

Pele sends message of support to Neymar

Brazilian soccer great Pele congratulated Neymar for matching his national team scoring record on Friday, and then commiserated with the player for his World Cup exit.

Pele, who has been hospitalized while being treated for a respiratory infection, posted his message on Instagram after Brazil lost to Croatia in the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout at the tournament in Qatar.

"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," Pele 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."

The 30-year-old Neymar walked off the field in tears and left it open whether he will continue playing for the national team.

"Keep inspiring us," Pele said in the end of his message to Neymar. "I will keep punching the air with joy for every goal you score, as I did in every match I saw you on the pitch."

Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, won three World Cups with Brazil. He had surgery to remove a colon tumour last year is also going through chemotherapy in his fight against cancer.

Pele's daughters, Kely and Flavia Nascimento, posted a montage of their father and Neymar together in celebration for the forward's scoring mark.