RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian fans gathered at Copacabana beach to witness their national team, known as the "Selecao," suffer a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the last 16 of the World Cup, ending their quest for a sixth title. This loss marks Brazil's sixth consecutive early exit and their worst World Cup finish since 1990, extending their longest title drought to six tournaments.
Fans expressed deep disappointment over the team's performance. Patricia Ramalho, among thousands at Copacabana, said, "I found it incredibly disappointing from start to finish."
Criticism centered on missed opportunities, including a failed penalty by midfielder Bruno Guimaraes early in the match. Actor Renan Moreira commented, "If you don't score, you get scored against, and we ended up getting scored against." Advertising worker Bruno Rangel added, "Our entire generation always played on the attack, scoring goals, controlling the ball."
Brazil's Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge just over a year ago and led the team in his first major tournament, faced scrutiny from fans questioning his tactical decisions. Despite this, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) renewed Ancelotti's contract in May, setting him up for another chance to compete for the trophy in four years.
Some voices opposed the contract renewal, with calls to terminate it, reflecting the divided sentiment among supporters.
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