Brazil make shock FIFA World Cup exit: How the players reacted | Football News – Times of India

Brazil had the entry to FIFA World Cup semifinals in sight when Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic equalized to take the game to extra-time, which remained goal-less to leave it to the penalty shootout to decide the winner of the first quarterfinal on Friday.
But the Brazilian superstars had their head in hands at the end of penalties, with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic denying Rodrigo on the first penalty and then saw Marquinhos hitting the post, which sealed the fate of the five-time champions.
Croatia won, and the 2018 runners-up were through to the last-four stage in Qatar.

Here’s what coach Tite, who has stepped down from the post, Brazil captain Thiago Silva, Casemiro and Neymar said after the match:
Thiago Silva
“It’s difficult. You have to lift your head. I’m very proud of the boys and what we’ve done, but unfortunately, it’s part of football. When we lose something important that we had as a goal, it hurts a lot. But now it’s time to try to lift my head and carry on. There’s no other alternative. I’m a guy that every time I fall, I get up.”
Neymar
“I don’t know what will happen with the Brazil team going forward but now we can only lament what has happened…I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100 percent that I will return.”

Casemiro
“We are sad, we are sure that everyone in the group gave their best. We were upset by the way it happened. It was in our hands, and it slipped away. Now it’s time to keep calm and life must go on.”
Coach Tite (stepped down after the defeat)
“The fifth (penalty) is the decisive one. There is more pressure, and the players who are better prepared should take this one…I do not agree we were disorganized. We put high pressure at the front and tried to retain the game with Pedro…I respect the result. These things happen sometimes in football…The players know how proud I am of their performance. Time will tell what my legacy is.”