Brazil Extends World Cup Drought to 6 Tournaments as 2-1 Norway Loss Triggers Backlash
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 6
Brazil Extends World Cup Drought to 6 Tournaments as 2-1 Norway Loss Triggers Backlash
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 6
Summary
Brazil’s 2-1 last-16 defeat to Norway left the five-time champions without a World Cup title for a sixth straight tournament, with criticism quickly turning on Carlo Ancelotti and the squad.
34% possession — Brazil’s lowest in a World Cup match since records began in 1966 — became a symbol of the failed plan to cede the ball and counter, a style pundits called cowardly and un-Brazilian.
Ancelotti’s substitutions drew particular fire after Bruno Guimarães missed a first-half penalty, with critics saying Neymar’s introduction into a central role weakened Brazil further and helped Norway seize control.
130 caps and 80 goals later, Neymar announced his international retirement at MetLife Stadium, where he made his Brazil debut in 2010.
£8.5 million a year is now under sharper scrutiny as calls grow for a wider reset before the next Copa América, with Ancelotti’s long-term future tied to whether Brazil can recover.