Today's news: Pelé encourages Neymar after the World Cup

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Neymar and his team presented a Pelé banner ahead of the round of 16 match against South Korea

Photo: PEDRO NUNES / REUTERS

Pelé congratulates Neymar on goal record on 'unlucky day'

9.11 a.m .:

Brazil football legend Pelé congratulated Neymar on Instagram for setting his own goal record in the Seleção, and this on a day that “is not the happiest for us”.

In the quarter-final knockout with a 2-4 penalty shoot-out (1-1 aet) against Croatia, Neymar scored to take a 1-0 lead in extra time, scoring his 77th goal in national team and drawing level with his idol.

»My record was set almost 50 years ago and nobody has been able to match it to this day.

You did it boy,” wrote Pelé, who was admitted to a hospital in São Paulo ten days ago.

However, the rate of the 82-year-old is better.

Pelé needed 92 caps for his 77 goals, while Neymar equaled in his 124th cap.

In addition, Pelé ignored the counting method of the domestic CBF association, which lists 95 goals for the three-time world champion, 18 of them in games not recognized by the world association Fifa.

Pelé encouraged Neymar, who, like himself, grew up at FC Santos, to refrain from a contemplated retirement from the Seleção and to chase further records and the hoped-for sixth World Cup title at the finals in four years.

“Your legacy is far from over.

Keep inspiring us,« the footballer of the century told the 30-year-old.

Van Gaal steps down as Bonds coach

8.55 a.m .:

As expected, Louis van Gaal has confirmed his departure as Dutch Bonds coach after the "incredibly painful" quarter-final against Argentina (3: 4 iE).

"I will not continue as national coach, that was my last game in my third term," said the 71-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the year.

“I'm incredibly proud.

I had a fantastic, wonderful time,” said van Gaal.

The end hurts particularly “because I did everything possible to prevent it” – among other things, van Gaal urged his players to practice penalty shootouts at their clubs.

"It's the second time we've lost on penalties against Argentina at the World Cup, with the same coach," said the former Bayern coach, referring to the 2014 semifinals, "but I learned from it and asked the players to practice .

But you simply cannot simulate the situation.«

Brazil wants Guardiola as the new national coach

8.40 a.m .:

After the quarterfinals, Brazil’s football fans want to put the dream of the Hexa, the sixth World Cup title, in the hands of the Spanish super coach Pep Guardiola.

The master maker from England's top club Manchester City is just a few hours after the Seleção's World Cup knockout again in the 2: 4 on penalties against Croatia (1: 1 aet) in several polls favorites to succeed the title who retired in the evening.

On the Globoesporte internet portal, over 32 percent voted in favor of the former Bayern coach until just before midnight.

At UOL Esporte, too, almost a third of the votes go to the Spaniard.

However, Portugal's Abel Ferreira, who led SE Palmeiras to the Brazilian championship this year and in recent years to the 2020 cup and Copa Libertadores triumphs in 2020 and 2021, is the number one favorite there.

Domestic contenders like Dorival Júnior, who recently won the Libertadores Cup with CR Flamengo, are only among the other runners.

A decision on Tite's successor is not planned before January.

The Brazilian association had already asked Guardiola in the past, but was deterred by an alleged annual salary of 24 million euros.

see/dpa/sid