Klinsmann accused Brazil coach, Tite, of saving his best for the last rather than allowing his most potent penalty takers to take the spot kicks
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former German striker, Jurgen Klinsmann, has accused Brazil coach, Tite, of being responsible for the exit of the 2022 World Cup favourites, after making what he tagged a ‘basic error”.
Klinsmann reached the conclusion while speaking with the BBC after Brazil were eliminated from this year’s tournament, after losing 2-4 to Croatia on penalties.
According to him, the coach made a fundamental error in their penalty shootout defeat by saving Neymar for his side’s final spot kick.
After an engrossing 90 minutes, Brazil thought they had won the encounter in extra time when Neymar scored a thumping effort to equal Brazil’s ‘official’ men’s goalscoring record.
But substitute Bruno Petkovic levelled scores for Croatia in a 116th-minute with his side’s first shot on target in the match.
Nikola Vlasic, Luka Modric, Lovro Majer and Mislav Orsic all scored from the spot for Croatia but Rodrygo who took Brazil’s first kick was denied by the brilliant Dominik Livakovic, while Marquinhos’ crucial fourth effort also struck the post.
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Croatia won the shootout and progressed to the semifinals where they will meet Argentina, while Brazil have to wait for another four years for a sixth trophy.
Klinsmann, while analysing the match, asserted that different managers adopt different approaches to taking spot kicks.
He noted that while some managers would want their best takers to go first, some others will save them for the difficult moments.
However, the German legend felt it was best for the most potent penalty takers to take first which has been the case in recent years.
He said, “Set the tone, don’t keep them for the fifth basically because you might not get the chance to kick.
“Nemyar would have been the first one for me. Just set the tone, score the first one and calm everyone else down.”
