Neville, Ian Wright, Keane slam Arsenal’s Gabriel after Brazil’s 2-1 World Cup loss to Norway

​Neville wondered why Gabriel gave Haaland so much space despite knowing the “centre-forward better than anybody”.

​By Kehinde Okeowo

​Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane, alongside former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, have all blamed Gunners defender Gabriel Magalhães for his defending during Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup Round of 16 by Norway.

​The former footballers turned pundits made their feelings known on ITV while reacting to his questionable defending for Erling Haaland’s opening goal.

​The Manchester City forward put on an outstanding individual performance, scoring a brace as Ståle Solbakken’s team triumphed 2-1 over the five-time World Cup champions on Sunday.

​The Round of 16 match appeared to be heading towards extra time after a goalless first half, during which Bruno Guimarães had a penalty easily saved by Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.

​However, Haaland had different plans, skillfully outmanoeuvring his long-time rival Gabriel to head in Andreas Schjelderup’s enticing cross in the 79th minute in New Jersey.

​He then extended Norway’s lead with a powerful long-range shot before Neymar netted a consolation goal in the final moments, bringing his tally for this summer’s tournament to seven goals in five matches.

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​With the victory, Norway secured their place in the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time in the nation’s history and will now face England in the last-eight clash.

​Reacting to Haaland’s opening goal in the second half, Neville wondered why Gabriel gave him so much space knowing what he could do.

​He said, “I’m fuming with Gabriel from a point of view, he knows that centre-forward better than anybody.

“For him to stay five yards off him and go for a straight race on a header with Haaland… absolutely crazy from Gabriel and I can’t believe it.”

​Expressing the same sentiments, his former teammate and ex-Irish international Keane added, “Poor defending [from Gabriel].”

​Also wading into the conversation, Wright said, “Listen, I can’t disagree with you with Gabriel… The thing is, what I’m surprised about with Gabriel, is he didn’t actually look for him once.

“That’s what I’m surprised with more than anything else because as a defender, you’ve got to get on his shoulder so that when he looks, you go. He didn’t do it once.”