On Monday, Neymar returned to Brazil’s lineup and helped his team to easily defeat South Korea 4-1. The result moved Brazil into the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will face Croatia on Wednesday.
After missing two games due to an ankle sprain, Brazil’s yellow shirts roared back at Stadium 974 with the return of their most expensive player.
Vinicius Junior scored the game’s first goal in the first seven minutes, and Neymar added another from the penalty spot to make it 76 goals for Brazil, one less than Pele’s all-time record.
Pele, 82, was watched from his hospital bed in Sao Paulo while receiving treatment for colon cancer. Tuesday saw the admission of Pele.
Richarlison’s spectacular goal made it 3-0, and Lucas Paqueta added another goal just before halftime. All of these goals were celebrated with dancing moves as the Brazilian fans cheered them on.
Paik Seung-ho regained parity for the Koreans when the Brazilians relented, but they were already focused on Friday’s quarterfinal showdown with Croatia, who came in second in 2018.
For the first time, Brazil scored four goals in a World Cup knockout game since 1998. Their performance scared their opponents that they have a sixth championship in their sights.
Neymar said, “We obviously dream of winning the title, but we have to take it step by step.”
He further said that after his ankle injury in Brazil’s opening match against Serbia, he got worried due to his inability to participate in the tournament again.
“I had an extremely terrible night after getting hurt.”
He added that “I had a gazillion different ideas going through my head.”
Dominik Livakovic, the goalie for Croatia, helped his side overcome Japan in the second last-16 game of the day by saving three penalties in the shootout. As a result, Croatia advanced to the round of 16.
Japan seemed to be on their way to upsetting Croatia, who were second in 2018, when Daizen Maeda handed them the lead just before halftime. Germany and Spain, two European powerhouses, had already been vanquished by Japan in Qatar.
But in the 55th minute of the opening World Cup game, Ivan Perisic of Croatia forced extra time with a strong header in response to a cross from Dejan Lovren.
The first penalty shootout for Qatar 2022 was required as neither side was able to break the draw.
It continued a spectacular pattern in which, with the exception of their defeat by France in the final in Russia four years ago, Croatia had reached the second round of major championships in seven of its previous eight knockout games.
After stopping the first two Japan penalty kicks, Livakovic blocked Maya Yoshida’s effort, and Croatia advanced thanks to Mario Pasalic’s game-winning penalty.
“We are thrilled beyond words to have made it to the quarterfinals. A very difficult game was being played by a very tough squad.
Japan’s striker Ritsu Doan was direct in his assessment of his country’s efforts: “We didn’t rewrite history, no matter how well we battled today.”
Three-quarters of the quarterfinal roster is now set, and on Friday, Brazil will play against Croatia and Argentina will face the Netherlands.
England faces the daunting prospect of hosting France on Saturday.
