Norway don finally prove say dem be World Cup contender after dem bin dey live for shadow of dia past glory. Dem go face Brazil for MetLife Stadium for round of 16, and dis match get plenty history wey dey sweet for Norwegian mouth.
Na 1998 World Cup when Norway beat Brazil 2-1 for group stage wey dey remain evergreen for dia memory. Kjetil Rekdal bin score from penalty spot after commentator Arne Scheie call am “the most important kick of a ball for Norwegian football federation history.” Now, 28 years later, dem get chance to write new chapter.
But dis Norway team no be like dia papa dem team wey never win any knockout match for major tournament. Dem don already win two knockout games for dis World Cup, first against Senegal for group stage and then against Côte d'Ivoire for round of 32. That win against Côte d’Ivoire na dia first ever knockout victory for World Cup.
Coach Ståle Solbakken, wey play for Norway for 1998 World Cup, don dey motivate di boys well. After dem defeat Senegal, Solbakken bin dey fire up and punch camera. But after Côte d’Ivoire win, e dey calmer and tell dem say dem dey change Norwegian history.
Erling Haaland don be di star man for Norway, with five goals already for tournament. E don score for every match wey e start, including brace against Iraq and Senegal, and di late winner against Côte d’Ivoire. Martin Ødegaard, di Arsenal captain, dey provide different kind of leadership with im well-spoken style.
But Norway no be only about Haaland. Patrick Berg, wey bin lose im place before tournament, bin return to produce man-of-the-match performance for midfield. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, wey dey bench for Sevilla, bin make save-of-the-tournament contender at di death. And Antonio Nusa score goal wey remind people of im idol Neymar.
Brazil, under coach Carlo Ancelotti, dey come with strong form. Dem top Group C and show grit by comeback to beat Japan for round of 32. But dem get injury concerns: Lucas Paqueta don miss tournament with thigh injury, and Casemiro bin cramp late against Japan, though hope say e go fit.
Di match go be clash of attacking styles. Brazil get multiple threats like Vinicius Jr., Matheus Cunha, and Neymar wey fit start for Paqueta place. Norway prefer to play front-foot football and no dey sit back, wey fit suit Brazil counter-attack. Both teams don see goals for recent games, with seven of Brazil last nine matches and five of Norway last six getting both teams to score.
MetLife Stadium for East Rutherford, United States, go host di match on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 16:00 local time. Di atmosphere go be electric as two of di most devastating attacks go head-to-head for quarter-final place.
