Former West Ham United striker Dean Ashton says Lucas Paqueta was ‘schooled’ by the likes of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic in Brazil’s World Cup defeat against Croatia.
Hammers midfielder Paqueta will be heading home early from Qatar after the five-time World Cup winners were knocked out at the quarter-final stage on Friday.
Neymar looked to have sealed a last four spot for the Brazilians when he tucked in the opener at the end of the first half in extra time. But Dinamo Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic would send the quarter-final clash to penalties after equalising with three minutes to go.
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Croatia would book their place in the semi-finals with a 4-2 win in the shootout after Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and PSG defender Marquinhos missed from the spot. Before Paqueta set up Neymar for the opening goal, Ashton believes the Hammers attacking midfielder was being taught an "absolute lesson" by the experienced Modric and Kovacic earlier in the fixture.
Ashton told talkSport during the game: “Lucas Paqueta may as well have a school uniform on because Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are teaching him an absolute lesson in midfield. They’re just schooling him.”
Paqueta played in four of Brazil’s five matches at the World Cup in Qatar and managed to pick up a goal and an assist in the tournament. The West Ham midfielder was on the scoresheet in a 4-1 win against South Korea in the last 16 and set up Neymar for the goal against Croatia.
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