QUARTERFINALS
DECEMBER 9, 2022
Croatia 1-1 Brazil {Croatia win 4-2 in PKO}
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina {Netherlands win 3-4 in PKO}
A penalty kick-off was needed to decide both quarterfinal matches.
Croatia and Argentina came out on top.
Brazil and Netherlands are eliminated.
Once again Croatia comes from a goal down and forced a penalty kickoff where they defeat their opponent. This time the opponent was Brazil (one of the favorites). Bruno Petkovic scored in the 117th minute to get Croatia level after Neymar had given Brazil the lead at the end of the first half of the extra time. (105+1′). Croatia won the penalty kickoff by 4 goals to 2, with all their takers converting.
The fourth game to be decided by a penalty kickoff was Netherlands vs Argentina. The Dutch came back from 2-goals down to stretch the game into extra time and eventually a penalty kickoff. Argentina win 4-2 on penalties after the Dutch missed their opening two kicks.
DECEMBER 10, 2022
Morocco 1-0 Portugal
England 1-2 France
Unlike the two quarter-final matches from the day before, there was no extra time needed to decide the matches today.
Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semifinal of the World Cup after knocking out Portugal.
France is two games away from defending their title after knocking out England.
Croatia beating Brazil through penalty kickoffs would’ve been the shock of the round if Morocco hadn’t gone a step better by knocking out Portugal from the tournament through Youssef En-Nesyri’s headed goal in the 42nd minute. Morocco moved on to the semifinal with a 1-0 win.
The most anticipated fixture of the round was England vs France. France came out on top with a 2-1 win against England but on the balance of play, there was a game where both teams were worthy of a win. Aurelien Tchouameni’s wonder strike gave France the lead in the 17th minute and an Olivier Giroud’s headed goals restored the French lead after Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot to even the score in the 54th minute. Kane had another penalty to even the score once again but skied it.
