Brazil national football team forward Vinicius Junior has explained why he did not take his side’s first-half penalty in the World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Norway national football team, insisting the decision was made by head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Brazil’s hopes of ending their long wait for a sixth World Cup title ended with a 2-1 loss, as Erling Haaland scored twice to send Norway into the quarter-finals.
Attention after the match centred on Brazil’s missed first-half penalty while the game remained scoreless.
Rather than Vinicius, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland before Haaland’s second-half brace proved decisive.
Speaking after the defeat, Vinicius said the penalty decision rested entirely with the coach.
“Why didn’t I take the penalty? Because it was the manager’s decision. I never hide or shirk my responsibilities.
“At Real Madrid, whenever the manager asked me to, I took them. Here, I followed the decision that had been made.
“This shows that I haven’t been selfish or acted in bad faith by seeking the spotlight,” he said.
The winger also defended Guimaraes, urging supporters not to judge him solely on the missed penalty.
“I hope that Bruno Guimaraes’s career with the Brazilian national team isn’t marred by this mistake.”
Despite criticism of Brazil’s tactical approach during the tournament, Vinicius backed Ancelotti.
“He’s a manager who gives me a lot of confidence.”
The 26-year-old admitted Brazil’s elimination was another painful setback for a nation still chasing its first World Cup triumph in more than two decades.
“We have to move on. I can only apologise to our ‘torcida’, who always believed in us and stood by us.
“There’s a lot of frustration because the Seleção haven’t won for a long time.”
Looking ahead, Vinicius expressed confidence that Brazil’s younger generation can return the national team to the summit of world football.
“We younger players are going to carry on and do everything we can to take the Seleção to the top,” he concluded.
