Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti maintain say im no get any special anti-Erling Haaland plan when dem go face Norway for World Cup round of 16 match for MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Ancelotti side come from behind to beat Japan with stoppage time goal from Gabriel Martinelli for round of 32, now dem dey prepare to face Norway wey get Haaland wey don score five goals for tournament so far.
Ancelotti talk say im players must focus on shutting down Norway well-drilled side as a whole, no just look at how Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães go keep close check on Haaland. I no think say there be such thing as anti-Haaland plan, Ancelotti yarn for news conference. I no need to tell my players how to defend, dem don face each other plenty times before.
Our team dey optimal condition, but we need to continue improve, Ancelotti add. Everyone know how Haaland work, I no get anything to explain to my defenders how to play against am. Dem don play against am several times, so we only focus on being well prepared for match, understanding basic characteristics of opponent, and we know say dem very dangerous offensively.
Norway na challenging team, team wey get structure, get very good organisation, so we must play at our best level, but I think we dey at time when we fit play at our best level because we confident and don come out of challenging last match against Japan, Ancelotti tok.
Bruno Guimarães yarn about Haaland say: He really something else. We must mark and attack. We do need to attack, but we make sure say somebody stay on am because with one ball he fit decide match and we no want let am get am.
Brazil go miss midfielder Lucas Paquetá wey get hamstring problem against Japan, but Barcelona forward Raphinha fit be back for contention after thigh injury. Norway coach Stale Solbakken maintain say Sunday match no go just be about whether Haaland fit get better of Brazil formidable centre-back partnership of Gabriel and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos.
Brazil get one of best pairs of defenders for this tournament, two players wey dey at top-notch international level, Solbakken yarn. There go be some tough duels between dem and Erling, but na more Brazil versus Norway for me.
Solbakken add: Brazil na favourites, of course dem be, but we hopeful say we go give dem match, and we must dey at our very, very best, otherwise we no get chance. Solbakken expect Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson to be available after thigh injury wey force am off during second Group I game against Senegal, while defender Holmgren Pedersen dey monitored after some coughing and rasping.
Brazil never beat Norway before, despite meeting on four occasions. Norway get two draws and two victories for this fixture, including famous 2-1 triumph for 1998 World Cup group stage. But that head-to-head record go fly out window when Sunday match kick off, with Brazil favourites to book quarterfinal spot with either England or Mexico.
Norway go prove awkward adversary for Brazil on Sunday, but Ancelotti men na undisputed favourites for game considering depth and quality of dem roster, and impressive portfolio of knockout experience for major tournaments. Brazil get some of most devastating forwards on planet, chiefly Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior, and should punish Norwegian side wey still yet to keep clean sheet this summer.
Solbakken side go expect to score, especially with Haaland for unstoppable form, but Brazil squad notably superior to Norway. That class, teamed with tactical acumen of Ancelotti, should facilitate progression to last eight for third straight World Cup.
