December 10, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

We’ve wrapped up our live coverage for today. We’ll see you in the semifinals!

In the meantime, read more on the 2022 World Cup here.

On the sport’s biggest stage, in the tournament’s quarterfinal, England and France engaged in a heavyweight bout Saturday evening in Qatar.

It took everything the French had to hold off the English, who played well and threatened to equalize even in the waning moments of an extended stoppage time.

Here are some of the scenes from shortly after the final whistle:

France players celebrate after the match as France progress to the semi-finals.

A dejected Harry Kane of England reacts after England's loss.

Kylian Mbappé celebrates after the final whistle.

Mason Mount of England reacts after his country's loss.

France celebrates at 2-1 over England at Al-Bayt Stadium.

A physical match with a tense atmosphere in Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar ended in a 2-1 victory for defending World Cup champion France over rival England.

In a tournament that’s featured all-world play from superstar Kylian Mbappé, it was France’s Olivier Giroud and Aurélien Tchouaméni who found the back of the net for Les Bleus.

The English controlled the ball for a majority of the match and had plenty of opportunities: The Three Lions had 15 shots to France’s eight, and seven of the English attempts were on target.

England captain Harry Kane will rue a missed opportunity late in the second half, where he missed a penalty kick over the net with a chance to draw even. His earlier successful penalty attempt was the only goal his side could muster.

The English players took issue with various calls made by the referee during the match —?and that narrative will likely persist in the days that follow this crushing loss for the Three Lions.

The French head to a semifinal against an underdog Morocco squad that has defied odds and made history with each round of the tournament.

France is the first defending champion to have progressed past the quarterfinals this century.

Harry Kane misses a crucial penalty for England.

England captain Harry Kane tried to make it his second score of the match via spot kick, but he missed.

His strike soared well above the goal manned by France’s keeper Hugo Lloris, Kane’s teammate on Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

Olivier Giroud scores Les Bleus' second goal of the night.

France’s Olivier Giroud just scored on a header to put France back in the lead against rival England. It’s 2-1.

It came on the end of an excellent cross from forward Antoine Griezmann.

Harry Kane celebrates after scoring an equalizer against the French.

England’s captain Harry Kane blasted a penalty kick past France’s keeper Hugo Lloris, his Tottenham Hotspur F.C. teammate.

This match’s tense atmosphere only ratcheted up further as Kane took his time setting up for the kick, eventually resetting the ball. Then he smashed it past Lloris.

With the goal, Kane has equaled England legend Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals for his country. Rooney accomplished that mark over 120 matches — while Kane has done it in just 80 appearances.

In the 54th minute, Bukayo Saka was fouled in the area to earn the spot kick.

The first half of England vs France lived up to the match’s billing as a heavyweight bout.

A tense atmosphere has settled over Al Bayt Stadium as play resumes.

Kylian Mbappé is tackled by Declan Rice of England during a tense match-up between the two rivals.

A long strike from Les Bleus’ Aurélien Tchouaméni is the difference for France over England. They lead 1-0 as the two teams break for halftime.

It’s been a tough, physical match so far. England doesn’t necessarily look overmatched. It leads in time of possession by a significant margin and the team has taken more shots at the goal (five to France’s three).

But Kylian Mbappé’s side remains in the driver’s seat. England’s fans look incredibly tense in the stands, as does the English bench.

The Three Lions have work to do when they return from the locker room.

Aurélien Tchouaméni of France scores the team's first goal against England Al Bayt Stadium.

What a brilliant goal to open the scoring in this match.

Aurélien Tchouaméni found the back of the net in the 17th minute to put France on top, 1-0.

It was a special score from outside the area after a fancy bit of passing by the French. When the midfielder got the ball, he took one touch before unleashing his strike from considerable distance, scoring past the outstretched hands of the diving English keeper.

It’s Tchouaméni’s first World Cup goal and only his second in international play.

England midfielder Declan Rice, left, and midfielder Jude Bellingham take a knee as a gesture of anti-racism before kick-off.

England’s players once again took a knee before the start of their match against France on Saturday, a gesture the team’s coach has described as an act of solidarity.

The England team and Premier League clubs have been taking a knee before matches for several years as an anti-racism gesture. They have done so in all the matches they have played so far at Qatar 2022.

Manager Gareth Southgate said kneeling was a way for his players to make their voices heard.

More context:?Teams have been?walking a fine line?in Qatar, with players facing potential sanctions if they protest the country’s treatment of LGBTQ people and other human rights issues.

England captain Harry Kane is among the most prominent players not wearing a?“OneLove” armband?during the tournament as originally planned, after learning players?could receive yellow cards?for the display. The armband features a striped heart in different colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities.

Antoine Griezmann of France kicks off during the quarter final match between England and France at Al Bayt Stadium.

Harry Kane and The Three Lions are taking on Kylian Mbappé and Les Bleus in a closely watched matchup that will determine who goes on to the semifinals.

These are the starting lineups for each squad when England takes on France in a quarterfinal face-off at 2 p.m. ET.

England

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham

Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Phil Foden

—————

France

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

Defenders: Theo Hernández, Dayot Upamecano, Rapha?l Varane, Jules Koundé

Midfielders: Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni

Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Olivier Giroud

Ahead of its?World Cup?quarterfinal against France, England has a problem to solve — namely, how to stop the tournament’s top scorer,?Kylian Mbappé, from adding to his tally.

Mbappé has been in sensational form in Qatar, scoring five goals in four games – two more than any other player.

That included a brace in his match against Poland?in the Round of 16. He scored first with a booming strike into the top-left corner of the net, then followed it up with a curling effort into the opposite side.

But the 23-year-old has showcased more than just clinical finishing at the World Cup, terrorizing opponents with his phenomenal speed and ability to get behind the defensive line.

England may have an answer to Mbappé’s breakneck pace:

Kyle Walker has long been regarded as one of the fastest fullbacks in soccer, and the Manchester City star is expected to line up opposite the fleet-footed Frenchman on Saturday.

Indeed, former England striker?Gary Lineker?went as far as to suggest that Walker should have been rested against Senegal in the Round of 16, protecting the defender from potentially picking up an injury ahead of facing Mbappé.

One option for England manager Gareth Southgate would be to deploy five defenders against France, with Walker operating as a right-sided center-back. Otherwise, he could stick with the four-at-the-back formation that worked so effectively in the 3-0 win against Senegal.

Bottom line: Data provider?Nielsen?has defending champion France as the favorite by the very thinnest of margins, giving it a 51% chance of winning.

It will be an intriguing encounter at the Al Bayt Stadium, pitting two of the World Cup’s highest-scoring teams against each other.

England’s Raheem Sterling, right, attends a training session with teammates on December 9, in Doha, Qatar.

England star?Raheem Sterling returned to Qatar ahead of today’s quarterfinal with France after flying home when intruders broke into his family home.

The forward missed England’s 3-0 win over Senegal on Sunday after his home in Surrey, England, was broken into on the night of Dec. 3.

“The Chelsea forward temporarily left to attend to a family matter but is now expected to rejoin the squad in Al Wakrah on Friday (9 December) ahead of the quarter-final with France,” the Football Association announced on Thursday.

CNN has reached out to Sterling’s representative for comment.

Surrey Police told CNN on Monday that it was investigating a report of a burglary at an address in Oxshott after the occupants returned home from an international trip.

They contacted police just before 9 p.m. local time on Dec. 3 to report that several pieces of jewelry and watches had been stolen, a police statement said.

But earlier on Monday, a person with knowledge of the situation told CNN that armed intruders broke into Sterling’s home while his family were inside.

In its statement, Surrey Police said: “We are aware of media reports stating there were armed suspects involved, however, at this time, we would reassure our communities that no witnesses have come forward to this effect and there are no reports of any threats of violence linked to this incident.”

Morocco’s fans celebrated in Qatar along with the players as the team became the first African nation to head to a World Cup semifinal after a 1-0 victory over Portugal.

Morocco fans celebrate the team's victory over Portugal on Saturday, December 10.

Morocco's Badr Benoun cheers with teammates after their victory.

Morocco players lift head coach Walid Regragui into the air.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the field in tears following the end of the match.

Morocco fans celebrate in the stands.

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, left, and Romain Saiss celebrate their team’s win.

Check out the best photos from the 2022 World Cup here.

Flowers are placed in memory of American journalist Grant Wahl, who passed away Friday whilst reporting on the World Cup.

White flowers were placed at the press seat of the late American journalist Grant Wahl ahead of the England vs France World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday.

Wahl died Friday after he collapsed while covering the Argentina-Netherlands match.

For many, Morocco has been the shock star of World Cup in Qatar. How did the Atlas Lions get to the final four of the most prestigious competition in world football?

Return of Morocco’s chosen son

The heir to the Moroccan coaching throne may have taken his place at the perfect time.

Affectionately nicknamed “Rass l’Avocat” (Avocado Head) because of his bald head, Regragui was a hard-tackling defender who, despite being born in France, chose to represent the nation of his family, notching up 45 caps.

Once his coaching career began, it was a matter of when —?not if — he would take charge of the national team. Many Moroccans thought it could be after the World Cup or in a few years. But none were unhappy when it was announced he would take over the national side fewer than 100 days before their first game at the World Cup.

In African football, Regragui has often been compared with José Mourinho thanks to his tactical discipline and stellar man-management skills. Both of those have been present in the World Cup.

Regragui is a French-born Moroccan. He has assembled the most nationally diverse team at the World Cup – 14 of the 26 players were born outside of Morocco, from six different countries – and has seamlessly integrated his group into one coherent unit.

World Cup tournaments can be tough emotionally to navigate – players are away from home for weeks. But Regragui has counteracted that by allowing the players’ families to stay with the team in camp in Qatar.

A federation taking soccer seriously

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) should also be credited with the Atlas Lions’ success at Qatar 2022.

After decades of footballing mediocrity, the FMRF – with the backing of King Mohammed VI – decided to overhaul the nation’s football structure.

In 2009 the FMRF opened its national football academy, which helped develop current international players like Nayef Aguerd and Youssef En-Nesryi, who scored in Saturday’s epic victory over Portugal.

The crown jewel of Morocco’s football investment is the Mohamed VI Football Complex just outside Rabat.

The training complex contains four five-star hotels, eight FIFA standard pitches – one of which is indoor in a climate-controlled building – as well as a medical facility that includes a dentist.

That investment over the last decade has begun to pay off.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after he failed to score during the match against Morocco on Saturday.

The defeat of Portugal by underdog Morocco likely ended superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for a World Cup victory.

The 37-year-old, who was seen in tears after the stunning loss, started the match on the bench and was unable to equalize the game in the second half.

If, as expected, this was his last appearance on world soccer’s biggest stage, it caps a career as one of the sport’s premier attractions in international play. An imposing physical force, fans watched for two decades as the striker bulldozed his way through defenses, grafting and training until he was simply better than anyone else on the field.

View more of Ronaldo’s career through the years here:

Morocco's players celebrate after winning the World Cup quarterfinal match against Portugal on Saturday, December 10.

History has been made at Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar: Morocco defeated favored Portugal to become the first African country to advance to a World Cup semifinals.

Morocco survived a tense second half, fending off constant Portugal attacks and preserving its 1-0 lead, even after star striker Cristiano Ronaldo was brought off the bench. Portugal dominated time of possession but simply could not find the back of the net.

In the end, a first-half goal scored on a pinpoint header from Youssef En-Nesyri was enough to win the match.

The underdog Atlas Lions have been one of the stories of this tournament, already becoming the first Arab nation to advance to the quarterfinals —?and doing so in the first tournament hosted in an Arab country.

Now the team makes history as the first African nation to make the final four. Morocco will take on either France or England from today’s 2 p.m. ET match.

Morocco's Walid Cheddira, far left, is shown a red card by referee Facundo Tello.

Morocco’s Walid Cheddira has been sent off the pitch due to an indirect red card during stoppage time.

The Atlas Lions now must close out the match with 10 players.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacted to the death of American journalist Grant Wahl on Saturday, saying that the administration’s thoughts are with his family and that senior State Department officials are in touch with Qatari officials and the Wahl family.?

The journalist died in Qatar after collapsing?while covering Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands match.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo joins the match against Morocco on Saturday.

Forward Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most recognizable players in the sport, is on the pitch for Portugal after starting a second consecutive match on the bench.

His team trails 1-0, and Ronaldo looked immediately for an opportunity to equalize. He lofted a dangerous-looking cross into the box on one of his first touches.

It was collected without incident by Morocco’s keeper.

Ronaldo makes history with this appearance: The influential striker now has 196 appearances for Portugal in international play. That ties him for most all-time with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.

Morocco is some 45 minutes away from a potentially history-making semifinals berth. Can they keep the lead over favored Portugal? Let’s find out.

Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Portugal on Saturday.

Morocco finally broke through near the end of the first half, with a goal from Youssef En-Nesyri breaking a 0-0 deadlock and putting his side on top.

Portugal dominated possession to the tune of more than 60% in the first half, but the Atlas Lions had more attempts at goal and finally found the back of the net in the 42nd minute.

Morocco is the first Arab nation to advance to a World Cup quarterfinal —?and they’ve done so in the first tournament hosted in an Arab nation.

They’re eyeing another piece of history: becoming the first African country to advance to a World Cup semifinal.

Portugal isn’t going to make it easy on them —?this is a deeply talented team, even as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo sits on the bench, and Morocco is the underdog on paper.

This could shape up to be a thriller.

Youssef En-Nesyri heads the ball to score Morocco’s first goal against Portugal on Saturday.

Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri has just scored the first goal of this match in the waning minutes of the first half.

En-Nesyri’s score was a pinpoint header. The Morocco striker defied gravity, winning the ball over a Portugal defender and the other side’s keeper, who came crashing out to intercept him.

Al Thumama Stadium is rocking with supporters urging on the Atlas Lions.

Morocco’s Jawad El Yamiq, left, battles for possession with Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos on Saturday.

This match is packed with intrigue, from the Cristiano Ronaldo benching saga to the Moroccan side’s underdog tale.

All that’s left is to play some soccer. Let’s go!

General view of the presentation ahead of the match between Morocco and Portugal on December 10.

Morocco will try to keep its underdog run alive against a Portugal team that is taking on a different shape in the waning years of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s career.

The two teams clash in a quarterfinal at Al Thumama Stadium at 10 a.m. ET. Here’s what to watch for from each squad:

Morocco

Morocco has been a revelation this tournament, defending valiantly and attacking with verve. The team is more than deserving of its place in the quarterfinals.

In Achraf Hakimi, who scored an audacious “Panenka” to win the penalty shootout against Spain, Morocco boasts a bonafide superstar. The Paris Saint-Germain fullback’s boundless energy down the right flank is the Atlas Lions’ greatest attacking threat.

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech provides Morocco’s creative spark, while Fioretina’s Sofyan Amrabat has undoubtedly been one of the best midfielders so far in this World Cup.

Head coach Walid Regragui has instilled belief and organization into his team. Morocco will justifiably feel confident it can beat Portgual and become the first African team in history to reach a World Cup semifinal.

Portugal

A loss in its final group game against South Korea raised questions about Portugal’s ability to progress far into this year’s World Cup, but its demolition of Switzerland in the last 16 answered them with aplomb. Fernando Santos’ side looked unstoppable with 21-year-old striker Gon?alo Ramos bursting onto the world stage with a brilliant hat-trick.

The youngster was replacing Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dropped to the bench for the Sweden match and remains there to start today’s match. Portugal certainly didn’t miss the superstar striker on Tuesday, but fans will be watching closely for any signs of strife Saturday —?and whether he eventually makes it onto the pitch.

More and more, this team is defined by the considerable abilities of younger stars, including defenders Rúben Dias and Jo?o Cancelo, and midfielder Bernardo Silva.

The Morocco and Portugal players line up before the start of their match on Saturday.

Here are the starting lineups for each squad when Portugal takes on Morocco in a quarterfinal clash at 10 a.m. ET.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is once again starting on the bench, a remarkable development in this tournament for one of the game’s most recognizable stars.

Portugal

Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa

Defenders: Pepe, Diogo Dalot, Rúben Dias, Rapha?l Guerreiro

Midfielders: Bernardo Silva, Rúben Neves, Otávio

Forwards: Bruno Fernandes, Gon?alo Ramos, Jo?o Félix

—————

Morocco

Goalkeeper: Bono

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Jawad El Yamiq, Romain Sa?ss, Yahia Attiyat Allah

Midfielders: Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah

Forwards: Hakim Ziyech, Sofiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri

Journalist Grant Wahl attends an awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, in November.

The death of prominent journalist Grant Wahl at the World Cup in Qatar has led to an outpouring of shock and grief across the sports world, with NBA star LeBron James and tennis great Billie Jean King leading the tributes to the American.

Wahl died after collapsing?while covering Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands match. The exact cause of his death is not yet known.

King said Wahl’s death was “heartbreaking.”

On Friday in Philadelphia, basketball star James said he had been “very fond of Grant.” While Wahl was at Sports Illustrated, he did a cover story on James when the basketball icon was in high school.

“I’ve always kind of watched from a distance, even when I moved up in ranks and became a professional, and he went to a different sport,” said James, speaking at a postgame press conference. “Any time his name would come up I’ll always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building. … It’s a tragic loss.”

Tyler Adams, the captain of the US Men’s National Soccer Team, sent his “deepest sympathy” to Wahl’s wife, Celine Gounder, and to those who knew him.

“Only some days ago, Grant was recognized by FIFA and AIPS (the International Sports Press Association) for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFA World Cups,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.

The co-editors in chief of Sports Illustrated, the publication where Wahl spent the majority of his career, said in a joint statement they were “shocked and devastated at the news of Grant’s passing.”

“We were proud to call him a colleague and friend for two decades – no writer in the history of (Sports Illustrated) has been more passionate about the sport he loved and the stories he wanted to tell,” said the statement.

Other current and former US soccer players, including Ali Krieger and Tony Meola, shared their condolences, as did sporting bodies such as Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.

Grant Wahl reports on a US Men’s National Team game in 2014.

Prominent American journalist Grant Wahl has died in Qatar after collapsing?while covering the World Cup, sparking an outpouring of shock and grief across the sports world.

He collapsed while covering Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands match, a witness told CNN.

Qatar’s World Cup organizers said on Saturday that Wahl “fell ill” in the press area, where he received “immediate medical treatment on site.” He was then transferred to Hamad General Hospital, said a spokesperson for the Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body responsible for planning the tournament.

He was treated in the stadium “for about 20-25 minutes” before he was moved to the hospital, Keir Radnedge, a columnist at World Soccer Magazine, told CNN Saturday.

“This was towards the end of extra time in the match. Suddenly, colleagues up to my left started shouting for medical assistance. Obviously, someone had collapsed. Because the chairs are freestanding, people were able to move the chairs, so it’s possible to create a little bit of space around him,” Radnedge said.

He added that the medical team were there “pretty quickly and were able to, as best they could, give treatment.”

The exact cause of his death is not yet known.

Wahl, right, works in the FIFA Media Center before a World Cup match on November 21, in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo warms up prior to the match against Morocco on Saturday, December 10.

Cristiano Ronaldo will start on the bench for Portugal’s World Cup quarterfinals match against Morocco on Saturday.

Ronaldo was dropped from the starting lineup on Tuesday as?Portugal went on to defeat Switzerland 6-1 in the Round of 16.

Earlier this week, the Portuguese Football Federation denied reports that Ronaldo —?long his nation’s talisman and one of the most recognizable athletes in the world —?had threatened to leave the World Cup squad after being named as a substitute against Switzerland.

The Portuguese sports publication Record reported that the striker had previously threatened to leave the squad following a conversation with manager Fernando Santos. But the FPF later clarified in a statement “that at no time did the captain of the national team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team during the stay in Qatar.”

Ronaldo also indicated on social media that he was committed to the team.

Fans will closely watch when, or if, Ronaldo sees the pitch Saturday. More and more, his team has come to be defined by the considerable abilities of younger stars, including defenders Rúben Dias and Jo?o Cancelo, and midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Either Portugal or Morocco will face the winner of Saturday’s France versus England game in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo sits on the bench during his team’s match against Switzerland on December 6.

The Portuguese Football Federation on Thursday denied that star forward?Cristiano Ronaldo?had threatened to leave the World Cup squad after being named as a substitute against Switzerland earlier this week.

The Portuguese sports publication Record reported that the striker had previously threatened to leave the squad following a conversation with manager Fernando Santos. But the FPF later clarified in a statement “that at no time did the captain of the national team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team during the stay in Qatar.”

Ronaldo also?took to social media?just hours after the FPF statement to reaffirm his commitment to the team, saying: “A group too united to be broken by external forces. A nation too brave to be afraid of any adversary. A team in the true sense of the word, who will fight for the dream to the end! Believe with us!”

It’s still not clear exactly why Ronaldo was dropped to the bench, but his performances of late have been well below the lofty standards he has set for himself throughout his career.

Read more.

FIFA on Thursday confirmed the death of a?migrant worker?at the resort used by Saudi Arabia during the group stages at the?World Cup?in Qatar.

It’s unclear what the worker was doing or the circumstances surrounding the person’s death.

A Qatari government official confirmed to CNN that the incident was being investigated by authorities.

Read more.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes celebrate?after defeating Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out on December 9.

The hopes of Argentina and Lionel Messi winning the?World Cup?remain very much alive after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands Friday.

Trailing 2-0 with just eight minutes remaining – thanks to goals from Nahuel Molina and Lionel Messi – the Netherlands staged a stunning comeback. A Wout Weghorst’s brace ensured the game went to extra time.

With neither side able to find the winner in those extra 30 minutes, the match was decided on penalties. Argentina goalkeeper Damián Emiliano Martínez made himself the hero for?La Albiceleste,?saving two Dutch spot kicks.

Martinez has made a name for himself as an expert in penalty shootouts, saving three in Argentina’s Copa America semifinal against Colombia last year. He further cemented his place as an Argentine hero in Qatar.

After Enzo Fernández missed the first penalty that would have given Argentina victory, Lautaro Martínez stepped up and hammered home the winning kick. It sent the Argentine fans, who made up the vast majority at Lusail Stadium, into delirium.

Netherlands and Argentina players clash during their?match on December 9.

It was a rowdy face-off:

Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz, known for his eccentricity and enjoyment of the limelight, certainly added to the drama. He dished out numerous yellow cards, including one in the shootout, as he struggled to keep control of the game.

There were no less than three brawls throughout the 120 minutes and penalties, the first one sparked by Leandro Paredes smashing a ball straight into the Netherlands dugout at the side of the pitch.

This match will undoubtedly go down as an all-time World Cup classic, but Argentina will quickly need to bring itself down back to earth ahead of a semifinal against knockout specialist Croatia.

Croatia's players celebrate their win against Brazil on December 9.

Brazil, the favorite to win this year’s World Cup, is out of?Qatar 2022?after losing to Croatia on penalties 1-1 (4-2) in Friday’s dramatic quarterfinal.

It looked as though Neymar had won it for Brazil after he scored a stunning solo goal in extra time – tying Pele’s international scoring record for the?Sele??o?with his 77th goal – but Bruno Petkovi? broke Brazilian hearts with a last-gasp equalizer to send the game to penalties.

It was Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovi? who was the hero yet again in the shootout, saving Rodrygo’s first effort before defender Marquinhos saw his attempt hit the post, which sent Croatia through to the semifinals.

Livakovi? had also saved three penalties in his side’s victory against Japan in the previous round.

It was a dizzying end to another remarkable game in Qatar, which took until extra time to really get going.

The game was largely reduced to scrappy half chances and resolute defending to keep the scores level in the second half.

Brazil's Neymar is consoled by teammates after losing to Croatia on December 9.

Raining on Neymar’s parade:

With extra time underway, Neymar produced arguably the moment of the tournament so far. The star attacker dropped deep to pick up the ball and split the Croatian defense with two bounce passes with teammates. He then fired his effort into the roof of the net.

The goal sparked frenzied celebration inside the Education City Stadium, with Neymar close to tears after seemingly inspiring his side into the semifinals.

But football can be cruel and Croatia never gave up.

In the 116th minute, Petkovi? stunned Brazil by sweeping home the equalizer and forcing the game into penalties with his side’s first shot on target.

Despite being captain and his team’s star player, Neymar did not take a penalty with Croatia – which has now won four World Cup shootouts – scoring all of its efforts before Brazil could even take its fifth.

Croatia, the beaten finalists in 2018, will now face Argentina for a place in the World Cup final.