Brazilian football icon Romário has called for the immediate dismissal of manager Carlo Ancelotti, demanding the coach "tear up" his contract following Brazil's unexpected elimination from the World Cup. The Selecao were defeated 2-1 by Norway in the Round of 16, marking their earliest exit from the tournament in over three decades.
The loss resulted in emotional scenes, with star player Neymar Jr visibly upset after what was his final World Cup appearance. Teammate Casemiro also expressed deep disappointment, stating, "We will always be the generation that didn't win the World Cup."
Ancelotti was appointed with the objective of leading Brazil to their first World Cup title since 2002. However, the team's performance has drawn significant criticism, with Romário being the most vocal critic. "He cannot remain Brazil's head coach," Romário told Sky Sports Italia. "If I had been in charge of the federation, I would have walked into the dressing room, told him to go to hell and torn up his contract on the spot. The match against Norway was a disgrace. I'd even take him to court."
Despite the backlash, Ancelotti is reportedly expected to continue as Brazil's manager until the 2030 World Cup. Rodrigo Caetano, Brazil's Football Director, affirmed his position shortly after the loss. "He is our manager and will be throughout this cycle," Caetano stated. "One of the main reasons we failed in this World Cup was not to have proper, stable guidance long-term that would have prepared our national team the way it should for a World Cup and we cannot make the same mistake again."
Ancelotti's tactical decisions throughout the tournament, including the selection of Neymar, have been scrutinized by the Brazilian media. Neymar, who played limited minutes, was included despite not featuring heavily for his club. Brazilian newspapers criticized Ancelotti for what they perceived as favoritism towards established stars, with one report suggesting that tactical substitutions "ruined the team." Another journalist described the campaign as "the worst performance of Ancelotti's career with a top-level team."
This World Cup exit is Brazil's worst performance in 36 years, recalling their Round of 16 elimination at Italia '90. The team has not won the World Cup since 2002, with their most significant recent performance being a semi-final appearance in 2014, which ended in a 7-1 defeat to Germany.
Following the match, Ancelotti acknowledged the disappointing outcome but expressed optimism for the future. "We must continue to work and improve and find new ideas. I believe that this loss is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle," he said. He also thanked the players for creating a positive atmosphere during the tournament, noting that "Things don't always go our way - not everything is always perfect."