Neville, Keane and Wright savage Gabriel after Haaland header ends Brazil's World Cup

Erling Haaland scored twice to send Brazil crashing out of the World Cup, with Norway’s victory sparking a fierce post-match dissection of Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes from the ITV punditry panel of Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright.

Haaland’s opener was a powerful header that drew the sharpest criticism, with Neville visibly frustrated at Gabriel’s failure to track the Manchester City striker — a player he faces regularly in the Premier League. “I’m fuming with Gabriel, he knows that forward better than anyone,” Neville said. “For him to stay five yards off to go for a straight race for a header — absolutely crazy. I can’t believe it. Block his run, get tight to him, but he’s the best at that. Once he jumps, you’re dead.”

Keane was equally damning, pointing to a lack of awareness at the moment the ball was delivered. “Poor defending. He’s not looking over his shoulder, he’s got a run on him, ball into a good area and there’s only going to be one winner. It’s like we say about Kane — you know these guys are going to turn up. There’s no doubt he was going to do the business.”

Wright, rarely one to pile on a fellow Arsenal man, found himself in agreement. “I can’t disagree with you on Gabriel. What I’m surprised with is that he didn’t look at him once.”

Neville returned to the theme later in the broadcast, struggling to explain how Gabriel — so well acquainted with Haaland from domestic football — could have allowed him a free run. “I don’t know how he didn’t see him. He’s about 14ft 2’. He’s massive. And actually he’s sort of in a decent position, Gabriel, where he’s side on. So you’re just thinking, as the ball’s about to be crossed, go and make contact, don’t let him have a run. I’m surprised Gabriel, in this type of game, as prepared as he would be, knowing him as well as he does, hasn’t done that.”

The result is a significant upset, with Norway advancing to the quarter-finals where they will face the winner of England versus Mexico.