‘F*** that he’s young!’ – Romario tears into Endrick after Brazil World Cup nightmare

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Brazil striker Endrick has been criticised for his miss against Norway that contributed to the Selecao’s exit from the World Cup, with national team great Romario showing no leniency towards the youthful Real Madrid striker.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side crashed to a 2-1 loss against an opponent inspired by Erling Haaland, whose excellent double catapulted the Norwegians through to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

The outcome could have been different, though, had Endrick scored when clear on goal. Instead, the substitute fired wide at a decisive moment.

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Endrick not spared by angry Romario

Ancelotti had previously resisted calls to deploy the 19-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Lyon after failing to make an impact at Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso. Indeed, Endrick became a social media phenomenon due to the lengths it was perceived the veteran coach would go not to use him.

Given the chance, the teenager came up short and was not spared by 1994 World Cup winner Romario, who slammed the youngster’s miss.

“A lot of people are saying, 'Oh, but he's young.' F*** that he's young, he has to score the damn goal. Young, average, old, who cares,” the former centre-forward said on ‘Romario TV’.

“If he’s there, he has the responsibility to score, there’s no away around it.

“Endrick’s mistake in missing the target was his own fault. When he gets there, he has to concentrate to score, because it’s a decisive chance, one that will define a match.

“I like him. I think he’s going to be a player who will bring us happiness, but on Sunday, he was terrible.”

Ancelotti criticism

Ancelotti was not spared by Romario. The Italian’s squad selection and tactical decisions were slammed, in particular the call to replace Bruno Guimaraes with Ederson, which was driven by a lack of full-backs in the squad composed by the manager.

“He takes Bruno Guimaraes off and puts Ederson on, why? I want to understand what he was trying to do with that mess,” Romario fumed.

“We don't have a full-back because he didn't call up anyone. We had a full-back, he got injured, he called up a centre-back. He called up Wesley, he got injured, he should have brought someone else. I know there's no full-back, but there's someone better than Ederson to play at full-back!”

Brazil’s exit at the last 16 stage is the nation’s poorest performance in the competition since 1990.