It was the identical previous Neymar on the market, trying match and scoring a aim to maneuver nearer to Pelé’s all-time document and lead Brazil into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Neymar returned from harm and transformed a first-half penalty in Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea within the spherical of 16 on Monday. He reached 76 objectives with the nationwide crew, one shy of the mark set by Pelé, who mentioned he would watch the match from his hospital mattress in Sao Paulo.
“I used to be very scared,” Neymar mentioned. “It was very troublesome after getting injured like I did. I used to be crying your entire night time. My household is aware of what I needed to undergo. However ultimately, all of it labored out. It was definitely worth the effort to maintain present process physiotherapy.”
Neymar carried a banner with the soccer nice’s picture and “Pelé” written on it after the match, and your entire crew then posed behind it close to midfield. The 82-year-old Pelé is recovering from a respiratory an infection in Brazil.
“It’s powerful to speak about Pelé with what he’s going by,” Neymar mentioned. “We want he can get nicely quickly. We hope we made him really feel a bit extra comfy with the banner and with the victory.”
South Korea was attempting to advance previous the spherical of 16 for the primary time since its historic run to the semifinals as a co-host in 2002. Brazil will subsequent play Croatia on Friday.
In the meantime, Croatia goes deep at one other World Cup, and the crew is taking the lengthy route as soon as once more.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks in Croatia’s 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up within the 2018 event.
The match was tied at 1-1 after further time.
On its stunning run to the ultimate in Russia 4 years in the past, Croatia wanted further time in every spherical within the knockout stage — and twice got here by on a penalty shootout.
“Historical past retains repeating itself,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic mentioned with a smile.
Livakovic was the backup goalkeeper to Danijel Subasic in 2018 however took centre stage this time, diving to his left to maintain out Japan’s first penalty by Takumi Minamino, to his proper to dam Kaoru Mitoma’s effort from the second penalty, after which once more to his proper to disclaim Maya Yoshida off the fourth.
That gave Mario Pasalic the possibility to place away the clinching penalty. The substitute joined the remainder of Croatia’s jubilant gamers in heading proper for Livakovic after hitting the again of the web.
“In Croatia, we do issues this fashion,” Livakovic mentioned. “I continued the custom.”
Japan made its mark in Qatar, although, beating Germany and Spain — two of the final three World Cup champions — in big upsets within the group stage.
“The gamers confirmed a brand new period of Japanese soccer, I believe,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu mentioned. “They need to use this sense of being upset and attempt to go additional subsequent time.”
Watch the video within the participant above.
