The inquest into Brazil’s shortcomings at the 2026 World Cup is already well underway, less than 24 hours after crashing out against Norway in the Round of 16.

Erling Haaland rose highest to head home the opener before smashing in a second to put the Europeans out of sight. Neymar ended his international career with a consolation penalty, but wasn’t able to prevent his country from being eliminated with a whimper.

So now the questions will inevitably come. Who was to blame for the ultimate failure on the biggest stage in world football? Was it Neymar himself? Carlo Ancelotti? Vinicius Junior? Gabriel Magalhaes?

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Back home in South America, there was very little left to the imagination when it came to who was in the firing line. Ancelotti, a five-time Champions League-winning coach, has had to take the majority of the heavy criticism.

Despite the consensus from some that Neymar didn’t deserve his place in the squad, Vinicius Junior shied away from a vital penalty vs Norway and Gabriel was manhandled by Haaland, the blame lies at the door of the manager.

A Brazilian columnist for UOL (per Mail Sport) explained the manager bowed to public pressure, writing: “In the final substitution, by bringing on Endrick and Neymar for the wingers, pandering to popular demand, he ruined the team. It wasn’t Neymar who died embracing Ancelotti, but Ancelotti who died embracing Neymar.”

Another reporter went on to add that it was the ‘worst performance of Ancelotti’s career with a top-level team’. They continued: “Carlo Ancelotti made the changes that ultimately ruined Brazil, especially with the introduction of Neymar.”

The Italian’s decision to call up an injury-prone 34-year-old ahead of Chelsea’s Joao Pedro appears to be a big point of contention at this summer’s tournament.

Another journalist, working for the same publication, labelled the performance of the Selecao as ‘cowardly’ and shameful. They wrote:

Ronaldo Calls Out Ancelotti’s Mistakes

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

It’s not just the press who are pointing the finger at the coach. One of Brazil’s greatest-ever players, Ronaldo Nazario, has also claimed Ancelotti’s many ‘mistakes’ vs Norway ultimately cost the team.Marca

While he’s very complimentary of his old boss, who is ‘one of the best coaches in the history of football’, R9 cited his exclusion of Joao Pedro as a baffling call. He said (per Marca):

He then pointed at the decision to restrict exciting youngster Endrick to sitting on the bench for the majority of the tournament. The two-time World Cup winner couldn’t ‘understand’ that call.

He concluded: “Then you look at Endrick. Every time he came on in this tournament, he brought energy, aggression and unpredictability. However, he spent most of the World Cup sitting on the bench. I don’t understand that.”

The Folarin Balogun controversy continues to take twists and turns, and the Belgian FA have now decided how they will respond if the USA striker plays in tonight’s game.

USA meet Belgium in the last 16 of the World Cup at 8 pm local time (1 am in the UK) at Seattle Stadium. All the noise heading into the game is about Balogun, who FIFA have allowed to play after suspending a one-match ban.

Balogun received his marching orders in the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. FIFA have used Article 27 to suspend the AS Monaco striker’s red card for one year, meaning he’s available for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The Belgian FA failed in its appeal against the decision after FIFA declared it “inadmissible.” Given the outrage that has ensued throughout the saga, some think the USA would be wise not to play their top-scoring frontman.

Belgian FA Decide to Take Action if Balogun Plays

Matthew Childs via Reuters

If Pochettino does opt to play Balogun in the Round of 16 meeting, it won’t be the end of the drama surrounding the former Arsenal star. Belgium will play against the USA, but their participation is “subject to reservation.”

According to Belgian outlet HLN, the Belgian FA intend to file an official complaint with FIFA if Balogun takes part in the match. They stated: “If Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was suddenly suspended by FIFA following his red card, takes part in the match, the KBVB will file an official complaint with FIFA. The football association considers Balogun to be an ineligible player. It has, moreover, also personally conveyed this message to the American football association.”

Should Rudi Garcia’s side lose to a USA team that fields Balogun, the KBVB “can go to a FIFA judge to challenge the result and demand compensation.” That complaint is expected to be dismissed by the FIFA judge because he’d have to rule against his own organisation.

The Belgian FA can also turn to independent bodies, including a civil court or the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, and seek compensation. The Red Devils’ manager Garcia said in his pre-match press conference that his country are now “defending football” and not just the national team or federation.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s sending off. Infantino responded to the situation and admitted that, while he had discussions with Trump, they had no influence on FIFA’s decision to suspend the suspension.

Pochettino Hints at Balogun Playing

Daniel Cole via Reuters

USA manager Pochettino has already made his feelings known about the situation. The Argentine was adamant that Balogun shouldn’t have been sent off after unintentionally landing on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic’s calf.

Pochettino addressed the backlash ahead of the game by defending his team. He told reporters:

“For me, there isn’t much debate here, though I do understand Belgium’s perspective and Rudi’s point of view. I understand why people conflate issues — people always do, because there’s often an agenda to mix things up — but in this case, I don’t think it’s right.”

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss added: “If anyone was harmed in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that we weren’t punished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not as if we’re benefiting. No, no. There’s no extraordinary gain we’re getting out of all this. I mean, ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either.”

Balogun has been one of the USA’s most important players at the World Cup thus far, finding the net three times in as many games. He scored in the win against Bosnia and looks likely to lead the line from the off in Seattle.

Tottenham have opened talks to sign a Manchester City midfielder who Enzo Maresca’s side are desperate to keep hold of.

Spurs have been one of the busiest sides in the summer transfer window so far, already securing six new additions to their squad.

It is no surprise that they have been incredibly active in the market after finishing 17th in the Premier League two seasons on the bounce.

They showed signs of improvement towards the end of the last campaign after Roberto De Zerbi was appointed, so it’s no surprise that the board are looking to back him.

Tottenham looked like they were facing the serious threat of relegation before De Zerbi took over, but he managed to steer them back in the right direction.

Tottenham open midfielder talks

According to a report from TeamTalk, Tottenham are one of the sides to have opened talks to sign Manchester City midfielder Xavier Parker in the summer transfer window.

The Manchester club are believed to be desperate to keep hold of the 16-year-old talent, making him an ‘outstanding’ offer that is believed to be among the strongest financial packages to a player of his age in Europe.

Tottenham are believed to be in a race against eight other clubs to secure the signature of the young star, who is widely regarded as one of the best in his age group in English football.

Parker, described as a game-breaking midfielder, is yet to agree terms on a professional contract with City, which has alerted other clubs such as Tottenham.

Tottenham pushing for Kroupi

via Reuters

Tottenham are also pushing to secure the signature of Bournemouth forward Eli Jr Kroupi in the summer transfer window.

Reports have suggested that Tottenham are preparing to make an opening bid of around £75 million to sign the youngster after his breakthrough season with the Cherries.

Spurs are believed to be at the front of the queue for Kroupi as they are planning to offer him an immediate start and role.

Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be interested in signing Kroupi, but with their star-studded attack, he is going to find it difficult to break into the starting eleven immediately.