Jurgen Klinsmann has accused Brazil manager Tite of making a basic error in their penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Croatia by saving Neymar for his side’s final spot kick.
The PSG superstar looked to have booked his side’s place in the last four by scoring a sensational individual goal at the end of the first period of extra time.
But the joy which greeted a goal that saw Neymar equal Pele’s all-time Brazil record was short-lived when Bruno Petkovic drew his side level with Croatia’s first shot on target, just three minutes from full-time.
Croatia defeated Japan on penalties in the previous round and made it through to a second successive World Cup semi final when goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic thwarted Rodrygo from 12 yards.
Nikola Vlasic, Luka Modric, Lovro Majer and Mislav Orsic were all successful from the spot for Croatia and when Marquinhos saw his effort cannon back off the post Brazil were beaten with Neymar powerless to prevent defeat.
Former World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann told the BBC: ‘They are obviously totally different approaches from managers, in recent years you always saw the best penalty takers take the first one.
‘Set the tone, don’t keep them for the fifth basically because you might not get the chance to kick.
Nemyar would have been the first one for me. Just set the tone, score the first one and calm everyone else down.
‘The momentum shifted with Croatia’s equaliser two minutes before the end of extra-time.
‘What goes through your mind then if you’re a Brazilian player. You suddenyl get scared, the whole nation expects you to get to the semi finals and then you start to panic in your mind.
‘You are far more nervous because you don’t have time to balance yourself out and relax.’
MORE : Croatia beat Brazil on penalties to reach 2022 World Cup semi-finals
MORE : Neymar equals Pele’s long-standing record as Brazil’s all-time top scorer
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