RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's media reacted with frustration and anger after the national team's bid for a sixth FIFA World Cup title ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in the quarterfinals.
The Uol news outlet bemoaned the five-time world champions' latest failure to live up to their billing as pre-tournament favorites in Qatar.
"Once again, the Brazilian team was eliminated from the World Cup in a match against a European team," the online portal said. "This was the fifth consecutive time that the Selecao was eliminated by a European opponent. The last time the team advanced against a European team in the knockout stage was in 2002 [in the semifinals against Turkey].
Cahe Mota, from Globo Esporte, likened Croatia's 37-year-old midfielder Luka Modric to Zinedine Zidane, who masterminded France's 1-0 win over Brazil in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup at the age of 34.
"A repeated script, with the main character parading his talent and Brazil being eliminated from the World Cup," Mota said. "Luka Modric wore the same maestro outfit as Zinedine Zidane in 2006, setting the tempo ... and paving the way for his teammates to shine."
O Globo's Paulo Vinicius Coelho expressed disbelief at the space afforded to Croatia for Bruno Petkovic's 116th-minute equalizer.
"Brazil made a fatal mistake ... [by] allowing Croatia to counterattack. How did that happen when there were only five minutes left?" he asked.
Luis Curro, a journalist for newspaper Folha de S.Paulo said Brazil "didn't know how to win" after Neymar had put them ahead in the 106th minute.
"The Brazilians must be held responsible for giving the Croatians the possibility of equalizing and then winning on penalties, just as they did against Japan in the round of 16," he said.
Meanwhile, Ricardo Magatti from Estadao said Brazil's lack of experience showed at key moments.
"It was clear in Qatar that some of the players felt the pressure of playing in a World Cup," Magatti said. "Sixteen of the 26 players in the squad were participating in their first World Cup. The impression is that mainly the younger ones, like Raphinha, handled the demands badly.
"The emotional aspect seems to have weighed heavily. This was evident in the penalty shootout," he added. ■
