Fresh details have come out about the heated exchange between Brazil forward Neymar and Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland during Brazil’s stunning 2-1 loss to Norway in the FIFA World Cup round of 16.
Brazil, seen by many as one of the favourites to win the tournament, were knocked out after Norway fought back in dramatic fashion. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored two late goals to send the Europeans into the quarter-finals and dump the tournament’s most successful nation out of the competition.
Neymar, whose place in Brazil’s squad had been widely debated before the tournament, began the match on the bench. He came on with the score tied but could not stop his team from making an early exit.
The 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star did score from the penalty spot in stoppage time after former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was judged to have been elbowed while going up for a header.
Before Neymar stepped up to take the penalty, Nyland tried to put him off during a tense exchange. The Norway goalkeeper was already full of belief after saving a penalty from Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes earlier in the match following a controversial VAR review.
According to DAZN, Neymar repeatedly asked Nyland, “where do you want it?” before taking the spot-kick.
Nyland replied: “I’ll stop it for you, I’ll stop it.”
Despite the mind games, Neymar calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to score Brazil’s only goal of the match.
After scoring, the Brazilian walked over to Nyland and had one more message for him.
According to DAZN, Neymar told the Norwegian goalkeeper: “Not to me! Not to me!” — making it clear that the goalkeeper’s mind games would not work against him.
