Brazil have had their last dance. They appeared to have edged a tense, enervating quarter-final with a superbly constructed Neymar goal in the 105th minute and it felt, at the time, as if their talisman’s moment of genuine arrival at this tournament could be a crucial event in its narrative.
But they reckoned without a remarkable, tough and accomplished Croatia team who have no idea when they are beaten. Bruno Petkovic’s equaliser, as the clock ticked down, had not seemed likely but you can never write them off; penalties ensued and Dominik Livakovic, the hero against Japan, saved the first from Rodrygo. When Marquinhos hit the post, with Croatia having been on point four times, the outcome was settled. A side inspired by Luka Modric, who dragged them around the pitch during their eighth extra-time period in nine knockout ties, cannot be discounted from going all the way.
