Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has suggested his Brazil career is over after his team were shockingly eliminated out of the 2022 World Cup by Croatia on penalties.
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Brazil were the favourites in Qatar and were expected to beat Croatia in Friday’s quarter-final clash at Education City stadium.
But despite wave after wave of attack, the underdogs held firm to take the game to extra time before Neymar scored a record-equalling goal to send the South Americans through to the semi-finals.
Silva had had very little to do throughout the entire match, but in the dying minutes his side were caught out by a slick counter-attack, finished by Petkovic’s deflected strike, which ended up being Croatia’s only shot on target in the 120 minutes.
‘In football, we are subject to conceding a goal, regardless of the opponent on the other side,’ Silva said post-match.
‘Croatia is a quality team. Suddenly we could be a little better focused. We’re not used to taking that kind of counterattack. I think we messed up a bit.
‘In the second ball that we lost, we gave the counterattack, which was all they wanted at that moment, in addition to the aerial ball. And the goal didn’t even come from the top, it went through the ground.’
That took the game to penalties, which Croatia won 4-2 after Rodrygo and Silva’s former PSG teammate Marquinhos missed from the spot.
It was a shocking defeat for Brazil who were the heavy favourites to lift the trophy and end a 20-year wait for a World Cup.
It would have been the perfect end to captain Silva’s long international career, with the 38-year-old centre-back expected to hang up his (Brazil) boots very soon.
He suggested that this was indeed the case in his post-match interview, telling beIn Sports: ‘Sadly as a player, I am not going to get to lift this trophy. ‘Who knows if in the future I will get the chance in another role.
‘It’s difficult. But despite the sadness, life needs to move on. I’m very proud of the boys, of what we’ve done, but unfortunately it’s part of football.’
Silva made his international debut in 2008 and since won 112 caps for his country, and in Qatar he became the first player to captain Brazil at three World Cup finals.
