Rodrygo

Croatia captain Luka Modric praised Real Madrid team-mate Rodrygos courage after the youngster missed a penalty for Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals.

"I was his age when I missed a crucial penalty in the 2008 Euro," Modric said during his post-match interview. Brazil went on to lose the shootout to Modric's Croatia, but the Ballon d'Or winner, who also missed a crucial penalty in the EURO 2008 quarter-final, is convinced that the experience will serve to strengthen Rodrygo. Rodrygo stepped up to take Brazil's first penalty in the shootout which followed extra-time of the 1-1 draw with Croatia.

DOHA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Croatia midfielder Luka Modric gave one of the examples of sportsmanship in the FIFA World Cup on Friday night after helping his ...

Modric and Rodrygo share a dressing room at Real Madrid and one of the images of the night was of the veteran consoling the 21-year-old after his miss, taking his head in his hands and looking him in the eye. Croatia won the shootout 4-2 after Brazil's Rodrygo saw his penalty saved and Marquinhos sent his against the woodwork. The 37-year-old was outstanding for Croatia in the game and then buried his penalty in the shootout that came after 120 minutes of football.

For 30 minutes after the last-gasp Dutch equaliser, Croatia vs Netherlands looked like a real possibility in the World Cup semifinal.

Valverde made just 27 passes in 76 minutes and failed to make a single cross on the night. The Catalans blazed through the wings on the night with Ronald Araujo and Alejandro Balde who constantly got forward in attack to stretch the men in white. Real Madrid have etched their names into history as one of the most deadly counter-attacking teams in world football. Vinicius Jr opened the scoring early in the game by forcing an error and own goal from Ronald Araujo. The game proceeded to penalties too, but Emiliano Martinez was on point for his team and took them to a memorable win. In the all-important penalty shootout, the Selecao sent the 21-year-old to take the first penalty. Continuously marked by a player who could equal him in both pace and anticipation, the Real Madrid forward found it difficult to influence the game. When it came to the decisive penalty shootout, Modric was on point to keep up Croatia’s 100% scoring rate. He recorded a whopping 139 touches in 120 minutes and completed 92% of his attempted passes. However, they could not hold onto the lead and conceded an equaliser in the 117th minute, leading to a penalty shootout. That was the extent of drama in Qatar on Friday night as two South American heavyweights played games with a similar script but different results. The early kickoff between Brazil and Croatia needed to wait until the 105th minute for its first goal via some Neymar magic.

The Real Madrid star stepped up to take Brazil's first penalty in the shootout which followed extra-time of the 1-1 draw with Croatia.

He added: 'Once again, thank you all and that in 2026 everything will be different, I continue to believe that we will still be very happy! This generation is very good, it deserves and needs to be crowned. 'Why did it have to be this way? as 21-year-old Real Madrid ace vows 'everything will be different' in 2026 Brazil forward Rodrygo has publicly apologised for missing a penalty as his country were dumped out of the 2022 World Cup [They were dumped out of the 2022 World Cup by a 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat](/sport/live/article-11520167/Croatia-vs-Brazil-World-Cup-2022-Live-Result.html)

Rodrygo Was one of the main signalled after the failure of Brazil in Qatar 2022. The forward of the Real Madrid failed his penalti in the decisive batch in ...

Besides, it added: "it is not easy but sure that it goes it to do stronger and goes to take more experience and strength to follow. Rodrygo And Marquinhos failed in the decisive batch, while Luka Modrić and the others three Balkan in patear hit his collection. Ney Armed a stupendous wall with Lucas Paqueta to break the zero, but in the 117' one against Croat found free to Mislav Oršić, the one who served a centre by low from the right so that Bruno Petković equalised the actions. All can fail, have said it to him, have given him spirit", expressed the player of 37 years. Rodrygo was one of the main targets after Brazil's failure in Qatar 2022. Brazil left of the Glass of the World after a bitter defeat in penaltis in front of Croatia (1-1, 4-2 p.).

LUKA MODRIC shared a classy message with his Real Madrid team-mate Rodrygo after knocking him out of the World Cup.Rodrygo was one of two Brazil playe.

He said: "It can happen to anyone. I love you son." You will come back stronger.

LUKA MODRIC shared a classy message with his Real Madrid team-mate Rodrygo after knocking him out of the World Cup.Rodrygo was one of two Brazil playe.

[won a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20709249/argentina-messi-netherlands-world-cup-weghorst-martinez/). He said: "It can happen to anyone. I have encouraged him. I love you son." You will come back stronger. [penalty shoot-out defeat to Croatia](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20706070/brazil-croatia-world-cup/).