Brazil's World Cup dreams have been brutally extinguished, leaving a nation in shock and outrage. The 2-1 defeat to Norway in the last-16 stage of the tournament marks six consecutive World Cups without a victory for the once-mighty South American giants.
Former Brazilian international Neto unleashed a scathing verbal assault on the current squad, branding them a "generation that won nothing" and their World Cup campaign as "shameful". He accused the players of being "losers" and part of a "generation of lies", highlighting that only six players had managed to win a single Copa América title.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti, previously praised for his tactical masterstrokes against Japan, has now become the target of widespread criticism. Cahê Mota, writing for Globoesporte, argued that Ancelotti's substitutions against Norway ultimately weakened the team and exposed their lack of a clear playing style. He pointed out that while a missed penalty by Bruno Guimarães could have altered the game, Brazil's inability to be clinical when opportunities arose meant that the defeat couldn't be blamed on injustice.
The statistics from the match paint a damning picture: just 34% possession for Brazil – their lowest in a World Cup match since records began in 1966. Mauro Cezar Pereira, a leading football pundit in Brazil, condemned this approach as "shameful", particularly for a team that prides itself on 'joga bonito' (beautiful play). He described Ancelotti's tactical choices as "cowardly" and unacceptable to the Brazilian public, asserting that the "poor quality of Carlo Ancelotti's work is an embarrassment".
The fallout has seen calls for Ancelotti's sacking, with the Brazilian football association facing scrutiny for awarding him a new four-year contract just months before the tournament. The manager's handling of star player Neymar has also sparked intense debate. Supporters of Neymar believe his inclusion from the start could have changed the game's trajectory, while detractors argue that bringing on Neymar was a critical error. Mauro Cezar Pereira stated that Neymar's introduction led to Norway gaining even more possession, attacking more, and ultimately scoring, suggesting that with Neymar, Endrick, and Vinícius, Brazil became "even weaker in combat" and were "definitely subjugated by the Norwegians".
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this crushing defeat, Neymar has announced his retirement from international football – a career spanning 130 caps and marked by triumphs and controversies alike.
The Brazilian football world is reeling in shock and anger, demanding answers from the current squad, the manager, and the federation. Can they bounce back from this debacle and restore their reputation as one of the world's top footballing nations? Only time will tell.