Croatia Beats Brazil on Penalties in World Cup Quarterfinals 

(FromL) Croatia's defender #22 Josip Juranovic, Croatia's defender #06 Dejan Lovren, Croatia's midfielder #10 Luka Modric, Croatia's midfielder #13 Nikola Vlasic, Croatia's goalkeeper #12 Ivo Grbic, Croatia's defender #05 Martin Erlic, Croatia's forward #17 Ante Budimir, Croatia's forward #18 Mislav Orsic and Croatia's midfielder #04 Ivan Perisic celebrate with their supporters after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (AFP)
(FromL) Croatia's defender #22 Josip Juranovic, Croatia's defender #06 Dejan Lovren, Croatia's midfielder #10 Luka Modric, Croatia's midfielder #13 Nikola Vlasic, Croatia's goalkeeper #12 Ivo Grbic, Croatia's defender #05 Martin Erlic, Croatia's forward #17 Ante Budimir, Croatia's forward #18 Mislav Orsic and Croatia's midfielder #04 Ivan Perisic celebrate with their supporters after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (AFP)
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Croatia Beats Brazil on Penalties in World Cup Quarterfinals 

(FromL) Croatia's defender #22 Josip Juranovic, Croatia's defender #06 Dejan Lovren, Croatia's midfielder #10 Luka Modric, Croatia's midfielder #13 Nikola Vlasic, Croatia's goalkeeper #12 Ivo Grbic, Croatia's defender #05 Martin Erlic, Croatia's forward #17 Ante Budimir, Croatia's forward #18 Mislav Orsic and Croatia's midfielder #04 Ivan Perisic celebrate with their supporters after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (AFP)
(FromL) Croatia's defender #22 Josip Juranovic, Croatia's defender #06 Dejan Lovren, Croatia's midfielder #10 Luka Modric, Croatia's midfielder #13 Nikola Vlasic, Croatia's goalkeeper #12 Ivo Grbic, Croatia's defender #05 Martin Erlic, Croatia's forward #17 Ante Budimir, Croatia's forward #18 Mislav Orsic and Croatia's midfielder #04 Ivan Perisic celebrate with their supporters after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (AFP)

Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup on Friday, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals for the second straight time. 

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty attempt by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post. 

The match had finished 1-1 after extra time, with both goals coming in the additional 30 minutes. Neymar scored late in the first half of extra time to give Brazil the lead, but Croatia equalized when Bruno Petkovic scored in the 117th. 

Neymar’s goal moved him into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals. 

Croatia will next face either Argentina or the Netherlands to try to return to the World Cup final four years after losing the title to France. 

Five of Croatia's last six matches at World Cups have gone to extra time, including in its penalty shootout win over Japan in the round of 16 in Qatar. The team has been successful in eight of its last 10 knockout matches at the tournament. 

Brazil was trying to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2014. The team hadn’t made it to the last four 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. 



Mbappe Hit 'Rock Bottom' with Missed Penalty at Bilbao

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo
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Mbappe Hit 'Rock Bottom' with Missed Penalty at Bilbao

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - December 4, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty kick REUTERS/Vincent West/ File Photo

Kylian Mbappe hit "rock bottom" with a penalty miss at Athletic Bilbao earlier this month as he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings at Real Madrid but the French forward said he used that disappointment to fuel his recent return to form.

Mbappe left Paris St Germain in the close season as the French club's all-time top scorer but his move to Real has been plagued by teething problems, while a hamstring injury and a thigh issue have also hampered his settling-in time.

However, since missing his second penalty in a week in a 2-1 loss at Bilbao Mbappe has scored four goals in all competitions, including the opener in Sunday's 4-2 LaLiga win over Sevilla, according to Reuters.

"I took a lot of positives from the Bilbao game. I hit rock bottom," he told Real Madrid TV. "I missed a penalty and I realised at that moment I have to give my all for this shirt and play with personality."

Mbappe now has 10 goals in 16 league appearances, helping Real end the calendar year second in the table, just a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

"I can score a lot more, I know I have a lot more to give. The last few games I've played better," he said.

"I think we now know each other better. I've joined the team and that changed a lot of things. The settling-in period is over, as the coach says. I feel very comfortable in the team and I play better with the others on the pitch."

Real next travel to face Valencia in LaLiga on Jan. 3.