Jermaine Jenas' scathing verdict on Neymar was vindicated as Brazil's World Cup hopes ended in dramatic style on Friday evening.
The Selecao, who arrived in Qatar as tournament favourites, were sent home from the Middle East by Croatia, who triumphed via a penalty shootout. Neymar scored a brilliant goal in extra time to match Pele's record tally of 77 goals for Brazil but largely struggled to have an impact on the match.
Bruno Petkovic brought Croatia level with a late deflected strike to take the game to penalties, with Neymar due to take his country's fifth - and often decisive - spot kick. However, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar did not have the chance to step up from 12 yards after Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to convert, handing Croatia a 4-2 shootout victory.
Neymar's brilliant goal - after playing a pair of one-two passes to surge into the area, take the ball around the goalkeeper and smash in from a tight angle - threatened to leave Jenas with egg on his face after he gave a negative report of the 30-year-old's performance. However, the dramatic end to the quarter-final clash and Brazil's premature exit from the World Cup meant the co-commentator was proved right; ultimately, Neymar left it too late to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
"He's been so poor today, Neymar," Jenas said on BBC Sport during extra time. "He's on the pitch for the penalty. I'm sure and you're always thinking he's going to do something. He's shown nothing for his side today."
Neymar, like many of his compatriots, was left disconsolate after Brazil's shootout agony. The former Barcelona forward sat slumped with his head between his legs as Dani Alves tried to offer him some words of consolation.
What went wrong for Neymar and Brazil against Croatia? Have your say in the comments.
Jenas did reserve special praise for Neymar during extra time, after he appeared to score the goal which would take his country through to the last four, even if it was not to be for Tite's side.
"Finally. Finally, one of the best players in the world turns up in the game," Jenas said. "What a goal that is by Neymar. He's got one thing in his mind, 'I'm driving right through the heart of you'. He just sticks it in the roof of the net. The balance, the composure, the brilliance, it's not been there all night but when it mattered for his country, he's delivered again.
"It's incredible, it really is, that's why you leave him on the pitch. There's not many players in the world that can do that in that kind of moment. [Neymar has] Hardly had a kick but his manager knows him, the world of football knows him. We've witnessed something truly, truly special. It's devastating for [Zlatko] Dalic, his team have been brilliant."
Croatia will face the winner of Netherlands versus Argentina in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
