Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad did not travel back to Rio de Janeiro together after being knocked out of the World Cup by Norway, instead going their separate ways. Sunday proved a disappointment for Canarinha, as they bowed out of the tournament in North America following a 2-1 loss to Norway.
Highly contested for the most part, Erling Haaland opened the scoring for his nation with a little over 10 minutes remaining to play. The Manchester City talisman then sealed the deal with his brace at the 90-minute mark. While Neymar Jr was able to convert from the spot at the death, his strike came as little more than a consolation prize for his nation’s efforts.
As a result, Norway will now face England in the quarter-finals of world football’s most prestigious tournament, slated for 10pm on Saturday, July 11 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Brazil, meanwhile, see a lengthy 24-year wait for a World Cup trophy go on.
While many teams have opted to travel back to their home nation in the aftermath of their exits from the tournament, Ancelotti’s players instead opted to go their separate ways in North America. Danilo was the only man from the 26-man squad to travel back to Rio alongside the national team’s coaching staff and Leo Nannetti, who was called up for training but never made the final cut.
The CBF-provided flight was not mandatory for players to take, with the majority choosing to travel independently after the frustrating defeat to Norway. While many headed off on their summer holidays, others returned straight to their respective clubs in preparation for the season ahead.
It comes as Ancelotti vowed that he and his backroom staff will “continue to do our jobs,” in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss. He told the media: “What I say is that we continue to do our jobs and look for new ideas.
“It’s the same thing we did this year. It is an experience on my side. 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. That is football for you, that is sports. Sometimes you have to manage the sadness and bitter taste of a defeat.
“I am very used to that, but 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 to have those feelings, but what we have to do is react correctly.”
Norway and England will now do battle for a place in the final four of the World Cup, while France play against Morocco, Spain are against Belgium and Argentina take on Switzerland.