World Cup: shots on goal, emotion, Brazil out ... what to remember from this Friday, December 9

Intense.

Tense.

Overwhelming.

The first two quarter-finals of this World Cup gave an exceptional flavor to this clash between the Blues and England.

At the end of two games with twists and turns, Croatia created the sensation by leaving Brazil (1-1, 4 pens to 2) while Argentina ended up dismissing the Netherlands (2-2, 4 pens to 3 ) after being very scared.

The player: Lionel Messi, again and again

He is still in search of a World Cup which is missing from his monstrous record, and we cannot blame Lionel Messi for not doing his part in Qatar.

The Argentine star offered the opener to Molina with a superb pass in space (35th) before doubling the bet on penalty (73rd).

The PSG player returned his copy by transforming the first shot on goal from the Albiceleste.

Class work, to go and play a second World Cup semi-final after a first foray in 2014.

The stroke of genius: the Dutch combination

It's both cheeky and very clever.

2-1 for Argentina, final free kick for the Netherlands after added time in the second half.

Instead of shooting directly towards the goal, Steven Berghuis adjusts a low pass for Wout Weghorst, replacing at kick-off and author of the first Dutch goal.

Served on the side of the goal, the massive center forward pivots, dominates Enzo Fernandez and adjusts Emiliano Martinez.

Great art to snatch the extension.

The failure: the end of the game for Brazil

And the Seleçao collapsed.

117th minute of extra time, the Brazilians lead 1-0 after struggling against this more than tenacious opponent.

Croatia go on the counterattack, most of the Brazilians don't make the effort to come back, Petkovic shoots, an unfortunate Marquinhos diverts, and it's 1-1.

The PSG captain's nightmare continued in the penalty shootout, where his attempt hit the right post of the still monstrous Croatian goalkeeper, Dominik Ivakovic.

Brazil is out, and can blame themselves a lot.

[📺LIVE] 🏆 #beINFWC2022 #HRVBRA

🇭🇷🇧🇷 MARQUINHOS MISSES HIS PENALTY, BRAZIL IS ELIMINATED!!!!!!!!https://t.co/cQJNpDOrOE

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) December 9, 2022

Distress: Neymar's tears

Big sobs, almost childish.

Supported by his friend Daniel Alves, the star seems inconsolable.

Brazil have just been eliminated from the World Cup, and Neymar is in tears in the center of the lawn.

The PSG and Seleçao player had however believed to take his team to the semi-finals after a superb collective action concluded by the striker in the last seconds of the first period of extra time.

An achievement that allowed him to equal Pelé and become the co-best director in the history of the Auriverde selection.

Scheduled to shoot in fifth during the penalty shootout, his turn never came.

"I do not guarantee 100% that I will come back", launched, disappointed, Neymar after the meeting.

[📺LIVE] 🏆 #beINFWC2022 #HRVBRA

🇭🇷🇧🇷 Neymar bursts into tears after Brazil's elimination...https://t.co/Sq6OdX5hYU

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) December 9, 2022

Coach to the rescue: Fernando Santos defends Ronaldo

Rebuffed by his coach after getting angry during his substitution against South Korea, relegated to the substitutes' bench at kick-off during Portugal's demonstration against Switzerland (6-1) in the eighth, accused of having wanted to leave his partners after this change of status... Cristiano Ronaldo is going through difficult days in this World Cup.

So much so that his coach Fernando Santos demanded that the declining star be left in peace.

“I think it's time to leave Ronaldo alone, slipped the Lusitanian technician on the eve of the quarter-final against Morocco on Saturday (4 p.m.).

He never told me he wanted to quit the national team.

It's time to stop this conversation and all these polemics.

We spoke before the game.

He was not happy to start on the bench.

We had a frank and honest conversation.

He accepted my decision.

»