Neymar equalled Pele’s record tally of 77 goals for Brazil with his brilliant strike against Croatia in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, but his team crashed out on penalties 

The forward fired home from close range in extra-time to put Brazil ahead and draw level with Pele, who scored his goals between 1957 and 1971.

Neymar beat Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and converted from a tight angle in stoppage time in the first additional period.

However, Bruno Petkovic levelled in the 117th minute, with Croatia winning the shootout 4-2.

Pele, who was recently hospitalised during treatment for colon cancer, is the only player in history to win three World Cups.

The 82-year-old triumphed in 1958, 1962 and 1970 with the Selecao and said earlier this week he was watching his country play in Qatar from hospital.

Five-time winners Brazil last lifted the World Cup in 2002, eight years before Neymar made his international debut.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, 30, has earned iconic status in his country but has been frustrated on the biggest stage.

He scored a penalty against South Korea in the last 16 on his return from injury, having missed the previous two matches in Qatar.

Brazil players unfurled a banner in tribute to Pele after that emphatic 4-1 victory on Monday.

However they will be heading home early after their surprise defeat despite coming into the tournament as favourites.

Brazil players look dejected after being eliminated from the World Cup

Like it happened at the quarter-finals of South Africaa 2010, Brazil have exited at the same stage in Qatar.

After a lively display in a match with hard fighting Croatia and getting not just the better possession, but scoring in the added time of the first halof of the extra time, Brzal unexpectedly crumbled when it mattered most.

Dominik Livakovic saved Rodrygo’s first penalty and Marquinhos hit the post to give Croatia a 4-2 shootout win over Brazil on Friday after their World Cup quarter-final finished level at 1-1.

After a scoreless 90 minutes Brazil took a 1-0 lead with a bit of extra time solo magic from Neymar but gritty Croatia refused to quit, Bruno Petkovic equalising in the 117th minute to send the contest to penalties

Moroccans may be used to the Atlas Mountains, but they have greater mountains to climb this evening as the 60^th of the projected 64 matches of the World Cup holds this evening.

Morocco, whose fans have increased here in Qatar over the last few days and have also been the ‘adopted’ team in the Arab World not have the covering and the adventages attendant to underrated teams.

Having defeated Spain on penalties to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, Morocco are seeking to become the competition’s first African semi-finalists as they take on Portugal, who racked up the round of 16’s biggest win in overwhelming Switzerland 6-1, Gonçalo Ramos becoming the FIFA World Cup 2022’s first hat-trick scorer on his first international start.

The teams have met twice before, both in decisive FIFA World Cup group matches.

Morocco were 3-1 winners at Mexico ’86, whereas it was Portugal who emerged victorious in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring an early header in a 1-0 victory for Fernando Santos’s side.

• England are aiming to reach back-to-back FIFA World Cup semi-finals for the first time.
• England have been successful in only one of their last five World Cup knockout ties against European nations.
• England have scored 12 goals at Qatar 2022, equalling their best-ever tally in a World Cup final competition which they previously achieved in 2018.
• Harry Kane is just one goal away from equalling Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals for England.
• France have been successful in 14 of their last 16 FIFA World Cup knockout round ties (including one penalty shoot-out win).
• France have been successful in eight of their previous ten FIFA World Cup knockout ties against European nations.
• The last time that France were involved in extra time in a World Cup match was in the 2006 final against Italy.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul celebrate after Nahuel Molina scores their first goal

Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout to keep Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream alive on Friday after the Dutch had snatched a 2-2 draw from the jaws of defeat in an extraordinary quarter-final.

Emiliano Martinez saved the first two Dutch penalties to give Argentina a huge advantage and Lautaro Martinez sent Andries Noppert the wrong way to set up a date for the South Americans with Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Messi celebrated with arms aloft in front of the massed ranks of Argentina fans, his hopes of securing football’s biggest prize at the fifth attempt intact for a few more days.

“Argentina are among the four best in the world because they show that they know how to play every game with the same desire and the same intensity,” said the seven-times Ballon D’or winner.

“A lot of joy, a lot of happiness. We didn’t have to go to extra time or penalties, we had to suffer. But we got through and it’s impressive.”

A third bench-clearing brawl of the match was the backdrop to Messi’s celebrations as some of the Dutch players, distraught after coming so close to one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history, clashed with their Argentine rivals.

A total of 16 yellow cards were shown throughout the contest by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu and Dutch wingback Denzel Dumfries was sent off after the final whistle for his part in the final brawl

Apparently on their way home at 2-0 down with only seven minutes of normal time remaining, the Dutch had scored twice through substitute Wout Weghorst to send the match to two scoreless periods of extra time.

Messi, almost inevitably, had played a major role in giving Argentina their lead.

While it was Nahuel Molina’s goal that put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute, it was Messi who unlocked a suffocating Dutch defence that had snuffed out any previous chances.

Taking the ball 40 metres out, the 35-year-old ghosted to his left in front of a wall of markers before sliding a pass back to the right to Molina on the edge of the box.

The wingback took a touch and poked the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Andries Noppert to send the vast majority of the 88,235 crowd at Lusail Stadium into paroxysms of delight.

There was more delirium for the Albiceleste faithful in the 73rd minute when Messi slapped a penalty kick in the right midriff of the net after Dumfries had fouled Marcos Acuna on the edge of the box.

HIGH BALLS

With tactics more reminiscent of Sunday park football than Total Football, the Dutch got back into the contest by bombarding the Argentine area with high balls aimed at their tall target men.

They were rewarded with a goal in the 83rd minute when Steven Berghuis crossed from the right and his fellow substitute Weghorst headed the ball past Martinez’s dive.

The Argentines held onto their lead until 11 minutes into stoppage time when Teun Koopmeiners cleverly reversed a free kick and found Weghorst free to put the ball past Martinez and level up the match.

The Argentines were still shell-shocked by the turnaround in the first period of extra time but recovered their composure to pepper the Dutch goal with shots, Enzo Hernandez coming closest to scoring with a rasping effort that hit the post.

The late surge gave Argentina the momentum going into the shootout, and Martinez added to it when he stopped spot kicks from Van Dijk and Berghuis.

The defeat was the first for the Dutch in 20 matches going back to last year’s European Championship and brought an end to 71-year-old Louis van Gaal’s third spell as coach.

It was the second time a Van Gaal team had lost to Argentina via a shootout in the knockout stages of the World Cup after a 4-2 defeat following a 0-0 draw in 2014 semi-finals.

“We practiced on penalties all year and then you screw it up,” said Van Gaal.

“That’s a pity. As a coach, I want to have everything under control. That is why I asked the players to take a penalty at their club, they all did. If you miss two, you won’t win anymore.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed his sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Grant Wahl after hearing the shocking news of his passing whilst reporting at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Doha.

“It is with disbelief and immense sadness that I have been made aware of the passing of renowned sports journalist Grant Wahl, whilst reporting on a quarter-final match during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” the FIFA President said.

“Only some days ago, Grant was recognised by FIFA and AIPS for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFA World Cups, and his career also included attendance at several FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as a host of other international sporting events. His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game.

“On behalf of FIFA and the football community, we express our sincerest condolences to his wife Céline, his family, and his friends at this most difficult time.”

Grant Wahl first reported on the FIFA World Cup in the United States in 1994 and had reported on every subsequent tournament, and he was recently honoured at a joint FIFA-AIPS Journalists on the Podium event in Doha, where he received an award from two-time FIFA World Cup winner, Ronaldo.