Rabat – Brazil and Norway will meet in the Round of 16 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. It’s the first time the two sides will face off in a World Cup knockout match.
Both teams endured difficult Round of 32 encounters. Brazil needed a stoppage-time goal from Gabriel Martinelli to secure a 2-1 win over Japan after Carlo Ancelotti’s side struggled to break down their opponent for long periods.
The five-time champions eventually change their approach in the second half, relying more heavily on crosses into the penalty area before finding the decisive goal
Norway also required a late winner to advance. Erling Haaland scored in the 86th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Côte d’Ivoire and send his country into the World Cup last 16 for the first time in 28 years
Brazil enter as clear favorites. They’re chasing a sixth title, and their group stage form backs that up, wins over Haiti (3-0) and Scotland (3-0), with Vinicius Jr and Matheus Cunha doing most of the job in front of goal.
However,the Japan game exposed something worth watching: when teams sit deep and don’t give Brazil space in behind, the Seleção can take a while to find an answer.
That’s relevant here, because Norway have built their run on exactly that kind of discipline. Ståle Solbakken’s side aren’t chasing the ball, they’ve been comfortable dropping in and making teams work for every yard, then hitting on the counter through Haaland and Martin Odegaard.
Norway also scored eight goals in the group stage, four of them from Haaland alone, so there’s more end product than the “defensive side” label might suggest.
Both teams possess significant aerial strength, which could limit an attacking route Brazil used frequently against Japan. Ancelotti may therefore need to find a different way to break this one open than he did against Japan.
History also gives the Scandinavian side reason for confidence. Norway is the only national team in the world to have played Brazil multiple times without ever losing.
Across four meetings, the Norwegians have secured two wins and two draws against the Seleção, including a legendary 2-1 comeback victory at the 1998 World Cup. This unbeaten record gives Norway a unique psychological edge as they look to protect their historic “hoodoo” in the Round of 16.
