Neymar’s international future in doubt after Brazil lost to Croatia on penalties in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final

Croatia meet Brazil in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Everyone expected Brazil to go through to the semi-finals due to the amount of talent they have in their squad. But things went out very differently in the match.

Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic dominated the midfield and nullified Brazil’s attack to some extent. However, when Neymar scored a goal in the first half of extra-time after the match finished 0-0 in 90 minutes, everyone thought it was the last roll of the dice as Brazil was about to qualify. But Croatia had other things in mind as Petkovic scored late in the second half of extra time and took the match into the penalties.

Livakovic saved the very first of Brazil’s penalties taken by Rodrygo and ultimately won the shootout as Marquinhos missed his penalty. Neymar was scheduled to take the fifth penalty but it didn’t come so far as Croatia won 4-2 on penalties.

Modric’s Croatia marches on to the quarter-finals, where they will face Argentina, who they have already defeated in the last World Cup.

Neymar’s international future in doubt after Brazil lost to Croatia on penalties in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final

This was Neymar’s best chance to lift the World Cup trophy. He will be 34 years old when the next World Cup happens in 2026. After their tough loss against Croatia, the PSG star is unsure about his international career.

Neymar told reporters: “Honestly, I do not know. I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment. Maybe I’m not thinking straight. To say that this is the end would be rushing myself, but I don’t guarantee anything either. Let’s see what happens going forward.”

“I want to take this time to think about it, think about what I want for myself. I will not close the door to playing with Brazil, nor do I say 100% that I’ll come back. I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.”

Neymar further added: “It is an awful feeling, I think this is a worse feeling than what happened at the last World Cup. It is difficult to find the words to describe this moment. We fought and I am proud of my teammates, proud of the character they showed to step up and take penalties.”