Brazil’s World Cup campaign is over, ended by Norway in a defeat that exposed every structural flaw Carlo Ancelotti failed to fix during his time in charge. The Italian arrived after a 4-1 thrashing by Argentina and went on to win 10, draw three and lose three of his 16 games in charge — turning around a side that had lost four of five qualifying matches before he took over. But the surgery required now goes far deeper than a change of coach.
The midfield remains Brazil’s most pressing problem. Ancelotti built his side around Casemiro, recalling the player from 18 months out of the international setup as his first act in charge. The veteran gave the team structure and helped Bruno Guimaraes thrive — until Guimaraes missed an early penalty against Norway, a moment that could have changed everything. But Casemiro’s inability to cope in open space was a recurring vulnerability, visible as early as the second minute when Norway had a goal disallowed. Brazil’s response was to sit deep, allowing Norway to pass with growing confidence.
The loss of Lucas Paqueta to injury, sustained in the previous round against Japan, compounded the problem. Ancelotti admitted he had no other player with the same qualities, turning instead to Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and leaving the attack almost entirely reliant on quick, direct breaks. Then came the decision that defined Brazil’s tournament — starting Neymar. Ancelotti had previously stated he would not select injured players and that Neymar would only feature if he merited his place. He broke both commitments.
The consequences were damaging. Without the mobility to track back, Neymar was played at centre-forward, which pushed both Vinicius Jr and Endrick wider and deeper — further from goal. The shape opened up, Norway found space, and Erling Haaland finally began receiving the service he needed. Neymar did score from the penalty spot, but he also escaped what many felt should have been a red card for a wild kick. In a cameo against Scotland he had resembled, in Ancelotti’s own handling of the situation, a player well past his best. Starting him in a knockout game was a gamble that backfired badly.
After the final whistle, Neymar suggested his international career is finished. “I tried, I tried… now it’s over! I started here, I finished here,” he told Brazilian channel ge tv, referencing his debut at the same New Jersey stadium in a 2010 friendly against the United States. For Brazil, the reckoning goes beyond one player’s farewell — an ageing squad and a shortage of quality midfielders suggest the road back will be long.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
