Gary Neville 'fuming' with Gabriel after Erling Haaland wins World Cup battle to stun Brazil | OneFootball

Neymar was also reduced to tears as Brazil suffer shock last-16 exit

Gary Neville has laid into Arsenal defender Gabriel for “crazy” defending after Brazil were stunned by Norway in the World Cup last-16.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday night to send Norway into a first-ever World Cup quarter-final.

Having survived a scare in the first half when Orjan Nyland kept out a penalty from Bruno Guimaraes, the Scandinavians broke the deadlock in the 79th minute as Haaland towered above Gabriel to send a superb header from Andreas Schjelderup’s pin-point cross beyond Alisson.

Taking nothing away from the header, Neville was less than impressed with Gabriel’s defending, citing the Brazilian should have been familiar with Haaland’s movement given their battles for Arsenal and Man City.

"I'm fuming with Gabriel from a point of view. He knows that centre forward better than anybody,” Neville said on ITV Sport.

"For him to stay five yards off him and go for a straight race on a header with Haaland, absolutely crazy from Gabriel.

"I can't believe it, there's one man in the box. The advantage the defender has there is just to go and absolutely block his run and get tight to him.

"But he's the best at that, Haaland, once he gets a run on you and he jumps, you've got no chance, you're dead and it's a brilliant header."

Haaland’s brilliance means he has now moved level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi on seven goals as the star-studded World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race heats up.

Furthermore, the Man City striker is on course for a quarter-final showdown with some familiar foes as Norway will face the winners of the Mexico vs England clash in Miami at the weekend.

As for Gabriel and co. they will be left to rue that missed penalty as well as Endrick wasting a golden chance within seconds of being brought on for Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha.

Neymar, who scored a consolation penalty deep in second half, was reduced to tears at the full-time whistle on what is likely to have been his last-ever World Cup appearance.