World Cup: No dancing in the streets of Brazil

There are a few certainties after tonight’s incredible World Cup quarter final match between Brazil and Croatia.

One is that there will be no Brazilian dancing – not in Qatar nor on the streets of Rio.

The other is that the citizens of Croatia will be painting their towns red…and white… after their underdog heroes stole a spot in the semi-finals via a late goal and another penalty shootout.

However, there were those of us who gave the Croatians more than a chance.

In my pre-match prediction I said: “But they do have the evergreen Luka Modric pulling the strings and Ivan Perisic in goal-scoring mood – not to mention ‘Zorro’ the masked marvel Josko Gvardial, who is being rated the best central defender in the world.

And then Dominik Livakovic in goal has been magnificent.”

In retrospect, those were the exact players who grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat.

It was an intriguing if not fruitful game from the first whistle to last, the Croats countering the Brazilian speed and ball skills with tight marking and relentless tackling.

Chances came and went and (again, as I had predicted) it took an extra 15 minutes each way – and beyond – to declare the winner.

All seemed lost for Croatia when the enigmatic Neymar, who twice was lucky to escape seeing red, completed a superb give-and-go by rounding Dominik Livakovic in the Croatian goals and nailing his shot (1-0).

He had done little else all night, but appeared to have put his side through to the semis.

But Croatia don’t know the meaning of surrender.

Having seen Perisic sky a sitter way over the bar, they found an unlikely source of a goal in late substitute Petkovic.

He slammed a hit-and-hope shot which took a fortunate deflection off Martinios to deceive an unfortunate Alisson in the Brazilian goals (1-1).

And so to penalties: and who would bet against Croatia in such a situation, after watching them eliminate Japan from the 12-yard spot a few days ago?

The spotlight fell on Dominik Livakovic in the Croatian goals. Having already made a dozen saves on the night, he would again steal the headlines.

Vlasic took the first spot kick for Croatia, fired down the middle for 1-0.

Rodrigo then saw his shot well read and saved by Livakovic.

Lovren (C), Casimiro (B), Modric (C) and Pedro (B) all stuck theirs in the back of the net (3-2 Croatia).

Croatian substitute Orsic then nervelessly tucked away the best penalty of the night, hard, low and left and it was now 4-2.

Martinios had the chance to keep Brazil in the game but his excellent strike rebounded off the woodwork to give Croatia an unassailable lead and progress to the next round – just two steps away from lifting the trophy.

What excitement this World Cup is giving us…and the best is yet to come!