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Impassable Livakovic, cursed Marquinhos… The crushes and scratches after the elimination of Brazil

2022-12-09T19:51:24.382Z


Beyond the final result, find out what caught our reporter's attention at Education City Stadium on Friday.


Special Envoy to Doha

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Livakovic, the wall that sends Croatia to the semis

Giant.

At 26, the last bulwark Dominik Livakovic has made a name for himself in Doha.

A name he wrote in gold letters.

The Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper almost single-handedly disgusted Brazil on Friday night at the Education City Stadium (1-1 after, 4-2 on pens).

11 saves to his credit, on the 12 shots on target by Neymar and company.

Neymar, it was precisely he who beat him, after a class action, well helped by Rodrygo and Marquinhos, the two Brazilians who… missed their shot on goal.

Although, that of Rodrygo, it was Livakovic who stopped him, the latter seeing the shot from the Parisian defender crashing into his right post.

A capital performance.

A performance for history.

Eternal Modric

Decidedly, Luka Modric is indestructible.

When he was to play his last match at the World Cup on Friday against Brazil, given as the winner by almost everyone, the Real Madrid playmaker delivered a five-star performance in order to give his people a chance.

At 37, we still saw him run like a youngster in overtime.

As for his magic foot, his glance, his vista, he will never depart from it.

A feast for the eyes.

Involved in the goal of Bruno Petkovic.

His technical quality was good to breathe in the face of Brazilian pressure.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or never got the attention of Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr and company.

A notch behind.

But he is unquestionably part of the great race.

We see him regularly with the Casa Blanca.

We

had seen in 2018, when he guided his national team to the final of the Russian World Cup.

And again here, in Doha, guiding his people on the path to success against greater Brazil.

Little big man.

Always the class obviously, ball at the foot but also outside, with a little word for his club teammate Rodrygo.

Read alsoWorld Cup: Croatia smashes the dreams of Brazil and will see the semis

Neymar's jewel to match the King

This December 9, 2022 will obviously not remain a good memory in Brazilian memories.

It will still be necessary to remember that it is the day when Neymar scored his 77th goal with the Seleçao.

A 77th goal which allows him to equal the record of King Pelé, not nothing.

Even if some believe that the said Pelé has in fact scored more goals than that in the colors of the national team… Still, this goal is a little gem, Neymar having in turn relied on Rodrygo and Marquinhos before to erase the impassable Dominik Livakovic, in the 115th minute.

CLAW STRIKES

Marquinhos, the curse

Model of consistency at the highest level yesterday, Marquinhos has lost his luster since the elimination of PSG against Real, in the 8th of the last Champions League.

On Friday, he did not particularly fail in the game, but fate is hounding him.

It was Marquinhos who diverted the shot from Croatian Petkovic three minutes from the end of extra time, that of the equalizer, the one that condemned Brazil to a penalty shootout, with the result that we know.

And it is precisely he who precipitates the fall of his people by sending his shot on goal on the post of Livakovic… Definitely, the Parisians are not varnished in this exercise: we remember that Carlos Soler and Pablo Sarabia also missed the target when eliminating the

Spain… We would advise Didier Deschamps to retain Kylian Mbappé if the Blues find themselves in the same situation on Saturday evening, at the end of their quarter against England… One thing is certain: Marqui is cursed.

And PSG will have to deploy a lot of energy to give him a smile and confidence from now on.

Read alsoWorld Cup: Neymar's tears after the elimination of Brazil

No Brazil-Argentina in semis

Seeing the picture of the final phase taking shape, at the end of the group stage, Brazil and Argentina seemed destined to find themselves in the semis for a boiling derby, a South American super-clasico which would have set the Lusail stadium on fire. Tuesday, but also the whole football planet.

Poster that will never take place.

Glory be given to the Croats for having believed in it until the end, for having played their part even if it was not flamboyant, far from it.

Minimalist football against the Brazilian armada.

In the end, it's only the result that counts and Croatia didn't steal anything.

If it's not a dream match that we won't see in the end… It remains to be hoped that Modric and company will put on another show against Argentina or the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-12-09

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