Brazil legend Craque Neto has launched a scathing attack on manager Carlo Ancelotti and forward Matheus Cunha after Brazil's 2-1 World Cup last-32 victory over Japan on Monday in Texas. Neto, a 15-cap international from 1988-93, expressed fury over Ancelotti's decision to leave Neymar on the bench and criticised Cunha's perceived lack of effort.
Neto questions Neymar's absence
Japan took the lead through Kaishu Sano in the 29th minute, leaving Brazil struggling in the first half. Casemiro equalised with a header in the 56th minute, but the winner only came deep into injury time, when Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 95th minute to set up a last-16 clash with Ivory Coast or Norway.
Neto was particularly baffled that Neymar remained an unused substitute. "What a lie this is about Neymar, the coaching staff, the medical department. They're messing around," Neto said in a social media video. "Against Japan? Not playing him? Put the guy in to play. When are you going to play Neymar? In the quarterfinals? In the semi-finals? In the final? What a joke."
Cunha and team performance criticised
Neto then turned his ire on Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha. "Matheus Cunha was walking, Rayan… Why didn't you put Danilo (Santos) in?" he continued. "Congratulations to Martinelli for the goal. Suffering is part of the game, that's fine. But playing in a mediocre way, without positioning… if it weren't for [Gabriel] Magalhães [assist], the equalising goal wouldn't have happened."
Ancelotti addressed his decision to keep Neymar on the bench, explaining he was saving the striker for extra time. "I was expecting Neymar to come on in extra time," said the Italian. "I told him that if we hadn't tied the game, he would have come on in the 60th or 65th minute. We managed to tie the game, and I didn't want to change the structure because the team had control of the game."
