Carlo Ancelotti has been accused of ‘ruining’ Brazil and ‘pandering to popular demand’ in the wake of the country’s disastrous loss against Norway on Sunday.
Vinicius Jr, Casemiro and Co crashed out of the World Cup in New York after an Erling Haaland brace inspired the Vikings to the greatest victory in their history.
It was a largely cagey affair. Bruno Guimaraes saw a penalty saved in the first-half and Casemiro came close to teeing up Neymar Jr for a tap in after the interval, but it was on 79 minutes that the game sprung to life.
Haaland darted across Gabriel Magalhaes to direct home a header before, a little more than 10 minutes later, he killed Brazil’s hopes with an effort drilled into the bottom corner from distance to make it 2-0.
Neymar, playing his 17th and final World Cup match, slotted home a penalty deep into added time – but it was ultimately merely a consolation.
The ex-Barcelona and PSG forward, 34, and many of his team-mates appeared inconsolable after the final whistle, for the defeat extended the longest drought in Brazilian footballing history. It was way back in 2002 that the five-time champions last lifted the World Cup.
Brazil crashed out of the World Cup on Sunday night following a 2-1 defeat against Norway
Erling Haaland scored twice for the Vikings to set up a mammoth clash with England in Miami
Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti has borne the brunt of the criticism in the wake of the defeat, particuarly for his decision to bring on Neymar Jr
And Ancelotti – who was brought in a little more than a year ago to restore Brazil to their former glory – has borne the brunt of the criticism in the aftermath of the loss.
The Italian’s decision-making against Norway was described as ‘disastrous’ by one Brazilian columnist in the outlet UOL, who also accused the boss of pandering to the demands of supporters.
‘In the final substitution, by bringing on Endrick and Neymar for the wingers, pandering to popular demand, he ruined the team,’ a reporter wrote.
‘It wasn’t Neymar who died embracing Ancelotti, but Ancelotti who died embracing Neymar.’
Neymar had been included in Ancelotti’s squad for the tournament despite making just eight league appearances in what was an injury-hit season at Santos, with stars like Chelsea’s Joao Pedro omitted entirely.
The 34-year-old featured just twice in the tournament and struggled to make an impact on either occasion, yet was preferred to Raphinha and Igor Thiago as Brazil searched for a goal against the Vikings.
Another Brazilian reporter described Brazil’s World Cup campaign as the ‘worst performance of Ancelotti’s career with a top-level team’.
The report adds: ‘Carlo Ancelotti made the changes that ultimately ruined Brazil, especially with the introduction of Neymar.’
The front page of O Globo read: ‘Brazil is eliminated and has its worst World Cup in 36 years’
The front page of a Sao Paulo publication read: ‘Brazil falls to Norway and suffers eliminations in six consecutive World Cups’
While the front page of another newspaper back in Brazil simply read: ‘Brazil sinks’
While a further journalist in the same publication was scathing in her analysis of the Selecao’s exploits in North America, writing: ‘Brazil: ‘Small, Cowardly, Dominated, Ridiculous, Shameful’.
She went on: ‘Neymar’s call-up is a scandal. This Brazil is not the Brazil of the people. It is the Brazil of power. An absolutely despicable and individualistic Brazil.’
The defeat marked the Brazilian’s worst World Cup performance in 36 years, when they were eliminated in the Round of 16 stage at Italia ’90.
Since they last lifted the trophy in 2002, the closest Brazil have come to replicating that success was in 2014 – and even that tournament ended with a humiliating 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Germany in the semi-final.
Ancelotti, however, insisted in his post-match press conference last night that he will not walk away from the job amid calls for his sacking.
‘We must continue to work and improve and find new ideas,’ the 67-year-old said. ‘I believe that this loss is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle.’
He admitted earlier: ‘For me, it’s a disappointing result and a great sense of sadness but it also leaves a truly valuable experience: an excellent working group. In fact, I want to thanks the lads for the atmosphere they created.
‘Things don’t always go our way – not everything is always perfect. Today we didn’t deserve to lose, but the opponent must be considered in the equation – and rival with excellent players who made the difference.’
Indeed, Norway and Haaland were stellar on the night to set up what will be a mammoth clash with England in the quarter-finals on Saturday night in Miami.
Prior to this tournament, the Norwegians had never made it to the knockout stages of the World Cup – and the team, led by Martin Odegaard, celebrated by performing their signature ‘Viking’ celebration on the pitch of the MetLife Stadium.
Haaland, who scored his sixth and seventh goals of the tournament, gushed afterwards: ‘Maybe this will write in the history of Norway. Everyone just needs to enjoy themselves.
‘This is just an insane day. It’s one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it, embrace it and enjoy the moment.’
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