Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes slammed as Norway dump Brazil out of World Cup

Gabriel was found wanting for Norway’s opening goal against Brazil (Picture: Getty)

Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright took aim at

Gabriel Magalhaes

’ questionable defending after

Erling Haaland

scored a stunning double in Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil.

Haaland once again took centre stage to inspire Norway to a famous victory over Brazil, the five-time

World Cup

winners, with Stale Solbakken’s men securing their place in the quarter-finals for the first time in the country’s history.

The last 16 contest had looked to be heading for extra-time after a goalless first half, in which Bruno Guimaraes had a penalty comfortably saved by Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

Haaland had other ideas, though, outmanoeuvring his long-time foe Gabriel to head home Andreas Schjelderup’s inviting cross in the 79th minute in New Jersey.

England's hero (Picture:Getty)

The talismanic Manchester City striker then put Norway out of sight with an emphatic long-range strike in the closing stages, taking his tally at this summer’s tournament to seven goals in five games.

He will no doubt be looking to increase that total when Norway return to action against the winner of England’s last 16 clash with Mexico for a place in the semi-finals.

Reacting to Haaland’s opening goal on

ITV

’s commentary, ex-England international Dixon said: ‘The script has been written. Andreas Schjelderup has looked lively since he’s come on on that left-hand side and he’s put the perfect cross in.

Haaland took centre stage in New Jersey (Picture: Getty)

Norway will face the winner of England’s clash with Mexico (Picture: Getty)

‘The one sat on his backside is Gabriel after this.

‘Just watch his movement: I’m gonna go on your left shoulder and then break into that space.

‘Look at the space between, it’s just asking for a cross on the penalty spot or around it and he gets it, in front.

‘And he knows it Gabriel, he’s been done. He’s been done by the movement that we’ve seen throughout the

Premier League

season. Out to in, Gabriel beaten.’

Dixon later added: ‘It’s an incredible goal tally he’s got and Gabriel suffers again.’

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Reacting to Norway’s win in the ITV studio, former England right-back Neville said of Haaland’s match-winning performance: ‘I’m absolutely delighted for him, he’s a big personality.

‘But look, 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.

‘There’s one man in the box. The advantage the defender has there is just to go and absolutely block his run, 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, your dead.’

Neville said he was ‘fuming’ with Gabriel’s defending for Norway’s opener (Picture: Getty)

Ex-Manchester United captain Keane added: ‘Poor defending [from Gabriel].

‘He’s not looking over his shoulder and he must be aware of Haaland. He got a little run on him.

‘The ball arrived into the right area and there was only going to be one winner. He just had a little run on him.

‘Again, it’s like what we say about Harry Kane with England: you know these guys are going to turn up.’

Former Arsenal and England striker echoed Neville and Keane’s analysis of Gabriel’s questionable defending, stating: ‘Listen, I can’t disagree with you with Gabriel.

‘But it was textbook movement from Haaland and he [Gabriel] couldn’t see him at any stage. Of course you’ve got to look for him.

‘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 forward, you’ve got to get on his shoulder so that when he looks you go. He didn’t do it once.’

This was when Neville chimed in again: ‘I don’t know how he didn’t see him… he’s about 14 ft 2, he’s massive!

‘And actually, Gabriel’s sort of in a decent position where he’s side-on so you’re just thinking go and make contact as the ball’s about to be crossed, don’t let him have a run.

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