Brazil newspapers – Brazil’s World Cup exit after a 2-1 loss to Norway has triggered a wave of anger in the country’s newspapers, with Carlo Ancelotti blamed for “ruining” the team and accused of bringing on Neymar Jr to appease fans. Neymar scored in added time in his final Worl
A night that began with cautious tension at MetLife Stadium ended with Brazil stunned by a result that felt like it came from another world. After Erling Haaland produced a brace to inspire Norway, Brazil crashed out of the World Cup on Sunday night following a 2-1 defeat against Norway.
The game swung into life late. after a first half where Bruno Guimaraes saw a penalty saved and Casemiro came close to teeing up Neymar Jr for a tap in after the interval. But it was on 79 minutes that Norway turned the match into a statement. Haaland darted across Gabriel Magalhaes to direct home a header. then — a little more than 10 minutes later — drilled an effort into the bottom corner from distance to make it 2-0 and extinguish Brazil’s hopes.
Neymar, playing his 17th and final World Cup match, slotted home a penalty deep into added time. It was a consolation, not a rescue. By the final whistle. Neymar and many of his team-mates were inconsolable. and the defeat extended the longest drought in Brazilian footballing history. Brazil’s last World Cup title came in 2002, and since then the five-time champions have waited.
For Carlo Ancelotti, the accusations landed quickly and hard. Brought in a little more than a year ago to restore Brazil to their former glory, the Selecao boss has taken the brunt of the criticism after his decision-making against Norway — and especially after his call to bring on Neymar Jr.
One Brazilian columnist at UOL described Ancelotti’s substitutions as “disastrous” and accused him of pandering to supporters’ demands. The reporter wrote: “In the final substitution. by bringing on Endrick and Neymar for the wingers. pandering to popular demand. he ruined the team.” The columnist added with bitterness: “It wasn’t Neymar who died embracing Ancelotti. but Ancelotti who died embracing Neymar.”.
That line captured the mood in a country where Neymar’s inclusion has become a lightning rod. Neymar had been included in Ancelotti’s squad despite making just eight league appearances in an injury-hit season at Santos. Stars like Chelsea’s Joao Pedro were omitted entirely. During the tournament itself. the 34-year-old featured just twice and struggled to make an impact in either match — yet he was preferred to Raphinha and Igor Thiago when 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,” adding that “Carlo Ancelotti made the changes that ultimately ruined Brazil, especially with the introduction of Neymar.”
The front pages carried the frustration into daylight. O Globo led with “Brazil is eliminated and has its worst World Cup in 36 years.” A Sao Paulo publication ran “Brazil falls to Norway and suffers eliminations in six consecutive World Cups.” Another newspaper’s front page in Brazil simply read: “Brazil sinks.” In the same publication. a journalist was scathing about the Selecao’s exploits in North America. writing: “Brazil: ‘Small. Cowardly. Dominated. Ridiculous. Shameful’.” She continued: “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 also underscored how far Brazil have slipped from their own standards. Sunday’s exit marked Brazil’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 repeating 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.
After the final whistle, Ancelotti tried to shut down the talk of immediate departure. In his post-match press conference last night. he insisted he will not walk away from the job amid calls for his sacking. saying: “We must continue to work and improve and find new ideas. ” and “I believe that this loss is not the end. but the beginning of a new cycle.”.
He acknowledged the pain inside the camp, adding: “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.”
Ancelotti argued the match couldn’t be reduced to one night or one decision. admitting: “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.”.
Norway and Haaland, in that argument, were the difference. Haaland’s goals — his sixth and seventh of the tournament — set up what will be a mammoth clash with England in Miami. Norway had never previously reached the knockout stages of the World Cup. and the team’s lead figure. Martin Odegaard. celebrated their breakthrough by performing Norway’s signature “Viking” celebration on the pitch of MetLife Stadium.
Haaland summed up the moment after the win, saying: “Maybe this will write in the history of Norway. Everyone just needs to enjoy themselves.” He added: “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.”
Back in Brazil, the celebrations were nowhere to be found. Neymar’s added-time penalty could not erase the deeper anger. The question now isn’t only how Brazil went out — it’s who they blame for it, and what comes next for a team searching for a way out of a drought that has lasted since 2002.
Brazil Norway World Cup Carlo Ancelotti Neymar Erling Haaland MetLife Stadium England Miami Martin Odegaard Vinicius Jr Casemiro Gabriel Magalhaes Bruno Guimaraes Endrick Raphinha Igor Thiago