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Croatia, the 2018 runners-up, stunned Brazil 4-2 on penalties
after Marquinhos and Rodrygo failed to convert.
Brazil's joint all-time top scorer Neymar -- who was fifth in
line in the shootout -- did not even get the opportunity to take
his penalty after his team mates missed.
"We were freaking out, it was real drama. We tried to discuss
the difference between the drama from the Brazil game compared
to the Argentina v Netherlands game and we came up with some
ideas," Klinsmann said at a Technical Study Group briefing.
"After conceding the equaliser in the 117th minute, Brazil had
no time to switch gears. From the disappointment of conceding a
last minute goal to the penalty shootout, there was no time to
settle and approach the shootout positively.
"For Brazil, they should have maybe put their best shooter
first, set the tone with the best penalty taker you have and
then go down the rankings."
That was not the case with their South American rivals
Argentina, however, who recovered from the shock of conceding a
last-gasp equaliser in normal time to the Netherlands before
prevailing 4-3 in the shootout.
Lionel Messi was the first to step up for Argentina and
converted his penalty with aplomb, immediately putting pressure
on the Dutch as Emiliano Martinez saved the first two Dutch
penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.
"With Argentina, they had extra time to play, even with the
shock of the (Wout) Weghorst equaliser in the last minute,"
Klinsmann added.
"They had 30 minutes more to play. At the end of the game they
were far more clearer (in the head) going into the penalty
shootout."
Klinsmann also praised England's quarter-final performance
against reigning champions France, saying the positive approach
from Gareth Southgate's side will take them far with the young
talent they have coming through the ranks.
"Overall it was very positive from England. France v England
should have been a semi-final or final. Unfortunately one of
them had to go home," Klinsmann said.
"It's still a team in growth, this is a team that can get better
over the years. They have a lot of talent coming through,
they're getting better and more experienced after three positive
tournaments. There's more to come from this England side."
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Al Rayyan, Qatar; Editing by
Christian Radnedge)
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