Croatia and Argentina beat Brazil and the Netherlands, respectively, on penalties on Friday in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Croatia won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time, and Argentina prevailed 4-3 on spot kicks after the Dutch team forced a 2-2 draw toward the end of the match.

Neymar appeared to have put the South American team on course for victory with a superb 106th-minute strike after a driving run. But Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic gave his team a lifeline with a left-footed shot that deflected in off Marquinhos with four minutes of extra time remaining.

Mislav Orsic, Luka Modric, Lovro Majer and Nikola Vlasic converted each of Croatia's spot kicks in the shootout. Rodrygo's feeble first attempt was saved by Dominik Livakovic before Pedro and Casemiro held their nerve only for Marquinhos to send his team's fourth penalty crashing against the left post.

Following Croatia's victory, Argentina and the Netherlands staged a second penalty drama of the day.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved penalties from Virgil Van Dijk and Steven Berghuis as Argentina beat the Netherlands in a shootout after a 2-2 draw in normal time.

Lionel Messi played an incredible pass that threaded through the narrowest of gaps in the Dutch defense to set up Nahuel Molina for the opening goal of the game in the 35th minute.

He then scored a 73rd minute penalty after Marcos Acuna was caught in the Dutch box, leaving Andries Noppert rooted to the spot with a finish hard to the keeper's left.

Argentina seemed to have the game under control, but in the 83rd minute substitute Wout Weghorst headed in to give the Netherlands hope and he added a second in the dying seconds of normal time. 

Croatia and Argentina will meet on December 13 for a berth in the final.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover image: Argentina's goalkeeper attempts to save a penalty during the shootout against the Netherlands in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match in Lusail, Qatar, December 10, 2022. /CFP)