Brazil's World Cup campaign ended in disarray as only one player, Danilo, traveled home with the team's backroom staff following their 2-1 round-of-16 defeat to Norway. The result eliminated the five-time champions and denied them a quarter-final clash with England.
Haaland Double Sinks Brazil
Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 10 minutes to secure Norway's historic victory. The Manchester City striker broke the deadlock in the 79th minute and added a second in stoppage time. Neymar converted a penalty in added time, but it was merely a consolation.
Norway will now face England in the quarter-finals at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. Brazil's 24-year wait for a sixth World Cup title continues, and manager Carlo Ancelotti faces scrutiny over his future, with Pep Guardiola reportedly linked to the job.
Lack of Unity in Defeat
Unlike many eliminated teams that fly home together, Brazil's players went their separate ways. The CBF-arranged flight was not compulsory, but the decision underscores a lack of unity. Danilo was the sole member of the 26-man squad to accompany the staff, along with training call-up Leo Nannetti.
Most Brazilian stars headed for summer breaks or returned directly to their clubs for pre-season preparations.
Ancelotti Vows to Continue
Despite the disappointment, Ancelotti pledged to carry on. "We continue to do our jobs and look for new ideas," he said. "It is a very disappointing result, and all of us are really saddened. But this was a great group, and I have to thank my players; they worked really hard. I don't think we deserved to lose, but we have to accept it."
He added: "We are going to take this defeat and use it as fuel for the new cycle. Everyone is profoundly sad, as the fans are. This is normal, but what we have to do is react correctly."
Quarter-Final Line-Up
Norway meets England for a place in the semi-finals. Other quarter-finals include France vs. Morocco, Spain vs. Belgium, and Argentina vs. Switzerland.
