Gary Neville has slammed Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes for his penalty miss in the World Cup as Brazil were stunned by Norway in the last 16 in New York on Monday evening. Brazil were dumped out of the competition after Erling Haaland's brace secured a 2-1 victory for Norway at the MetLife Stadium, with Neymar Jr scoring a consolation penalty for Brazil.
Guimaraes' Penalty Fails as Norway Advances
The defeat means Stale Solbakken's side will face England in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday evening, rather than Brazil. Guimaraes, who had recorded four assists during an otherwise excellent World Cup, missed a golden chance to put Brazil ahead from the penalty spot. After Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was fouled by Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer, Guimaraes stepped up to take the kick, surprising many pundits.
The 28-year-old attempted a stutter run-up, but Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland held his ground and did not commit to diving. Guimaraes tried to slot the ball into the right-hand side of the goal, but his tame effort was easily saved by the former Aston Villa shot-stopper. This was not the first time in the tournament that a goalkeeper had foiled a penalty taker using a stuttered run-up.
ITV Pundits Criticize Guimaraes' Technique
The miss drew heavy criticism from ITV pundits Ian Wright, Roy Keane, and Neville. Neville bizarrely claimed that "you have to be an unbelievably special player" to score with that type of penalty. "The stuttering of Guimaraes, it is more than a stutter - he plants his feet and then stutters," Neville said on ITV Sport.
Former Arsenal and England forward Ian Wright interjected: "You know what, Gal, he is almost leaning back and it is almost like he has got no power in it. I think goalkeepers are a little bit more alive to it and they are waiting even more. He gives them the look but then he doesn't look like he can go any other direction apart from there. It is a poor penalty."
Roy Keane added: "He never gets his head up. I understand the lads waiting for the goalkeeper to move and he puts it the other side but he slowed down his momentum and he never took his eye off the ball." Neville then went further, arguing: "You have to be an unbelievably special player to wait for the goalkeeper to move and then slot it in the other side. I am talking about some of the greatest players of all time or the greatest penalty takers. Everyone is trying to do it and they are nowhere near good enough at that level to do it."
Guimaraes' World Cup Ends on Sour Note
Guimaraes saw another effort saved by Nyland from point-blank range later in the game before being replaced by incoming Manchester United midfielder Ederson in the 79th minute. He cut a crestfallen figure at full-time as Brazil's World Cup dream ended for another four years. He will now have around three weeks off before returning to Newcastle for pre-season. Arsenal are keen to sign him this summer, but the Magpies insist their captain is not for sale.
