December 10: Croatia knocked title favourites Brazil out of the World Cup on penalties as they kept their nerve to edge through to the semi-finals. Croatia, the beaten finalists four years ago, scored with all four of their spot-kicks as Rodrygo - taking his team's first kick - was denied by the brilliant Dominik Livakovic while the crucial fourth effort of Brazil’s Marquinho struck the post.

As the ball hit the foot of the woodwork and bounced away, Croatia's team sprinted to celebrate with their goalkeeper, while the Brazil players hit the turf, knowing their dream of a sixth crown had come to an end, the BBC reported.

After an engrossing 90 minutes, Tite's men thought they had won it in extra time when Neymar scored a thumping effort to equal Brazil's 'official' men's goalscoring record.

But Brazil were punished for letting their guard down, with substitute Bruno Petkovic drilling in an 117th-minute equaliser with their one and only shot on target, breaking Brazilian hearts in the Education City Stadium, Reuters reported.

According to the news agency, the 2018 runners-up came through their second straight shootout after beating Japan on penalties in the last 16 and will now face Argentina, who defeated the Netherlands in another penalty shootout in another late match of the day.