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The Peninsula
They danced after beating South Korea in the Round of 16, and were hoping to repeat the same on Friday.
Instead, they were taking a long flight back home across the Atlantic Ocean.
Where are you going Brazil... in world football?
They may be the top-ranked team in the world, but hot favourites Brazil had to bow out of contention in Qatar after tasting an agonizing defeat in the hands of 'Penalty Kings' Croatia.
The 2018 runners-up prevailed in a shootout for the second time at Qatar 2022, following their victory over Japan in the Last 16. Five-time winners Brazil failed to clear the quarter-final hurdle for the consecutive time as they lost to Belgium 2-1 at the same stage four years ago.
Brazil, were on course for a win on Friday after Neymar netted one in the first-half of extra time before Croatia pulled off an equaliser through Bruno Petkovic with three minutes remaining.
The shootout was totally dominated by the Croatians, with goal keeper Dominik Livakovic – being the perfectionist – doing his part for his country to take them to back to back semi-finals.
Just like his teammates, Neymar didn't try to hide emotions and was seen in tears after missing out on a chance to win his maiden World Cup, and he expressed his extreme regret.
Brazil's Neymar looks dejected after his team was eliminated from the World Cup. REUTERS
Post match, at the Education City Stadium, Neymar, 30, told the media that he could not guarantee he would play for the national team again.
“I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100 percent that I will return,” an emotional Neymar said in the heat of the moment.
“I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.”“It is an awful feeling, I think this is a worse feeling than what happened at the last World Cup,” said Neymar.
Brazil were knockout by Belgium in the quarter-finals at Russia 2018.
“Honestly, I do not know. I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment. Maybe I'm not thinking straight,” he said.
“We fought and I am proud of my teammates, proud of the character they showed to step up and take penalties,” Neymar, who equalled Pele's record tally of 77 goals for Brazil with Friday's goal, said.
Pele, meanwhile, urged Neymar to 'keep inspiring' after the Brazil forward's comments.
Pele, 82, said on Instagram that he hoped the PSG star continues to play for the country despite the agonizing defeat.
“You know, as I do, that no number is greater than the joy of representing our country,” ailing Pele wrote on Instagram.
“I'm 82 years old, and after all this time, I hope I've inspired you in some way to get this far.... Your legacy is far from over. Keep inspiring us. I will continue punching the air with happiness with every goal you score, as I have done in every game I've seen you on the pitch,” Pele said.
The Brazil great also congratulated Neymar for equalling his record.
“I learned that the more time passes, the more our legacy grows. My record was set almost 50 years ago, and no one has been able to get close to it until now. You made it, my boy. That adds to the greatness of your achievement,” Pele added.
Brazil captain Thiago Silva was also finding it difficult to deal with the defeat.
“It is difficult. I have been through some disappointments in my life and when we lose something important that we have as an objective it hurts quite a lot. But we have to try to lift our heads and carry on. There is no other alternative,” Silva said.
“We are not used to being hit on the break like that. We became a little disorganised and that is where the goal came from.”“Sadly as a player I am not going to get to lift this trophy. Who knows if in future I will get the chance in another role,” Silva, 38, who might have just played his last World Cup, said.
In the aftermath of the World Cup exit, Brazil coach Tite also marked the end of his journey with the team.
The 61-year-old Tite had already decided prior to the World Cup that he would leave hi position after Qatar 2022 regardless of the outcome.
“It is a painful defeat but I go in peace. It is the end of a cycle. I already said that a year and a half ago. I didn't come here to win and then turn around and say I was going to stay. People who know me know that,” Tite, who has been with the team since 2016, said.