Brazil look to overcome Norway hoodoo in World Cup last ۱۶ clash

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Who: Brazil vs Norway
What: FIFA World Cup ۲۰۲۶ – Round of ۱۶
Where: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US
When: Sunday, July ۵, at ۴pm (۲۰:۰۰ GMT)
How to follow: We will have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from ۱۷:۰۰ GMT before our live text commentary stream.

Two of the world’s most exciting forwards, Vinicius Jr and Erling Haaland, will light up Sunday evening in New Jersey when Brazil face Norway in a blockbuster round of ۱۶ clash.

For all their dominance on the world stage, Brazil have historically struggled to find a way past Norway, and after four failed attempts, the Selecao will hope the fifth time is the charm.

Carlo Ancelotti’s talented side has its fair share of flaws, and having narrowly escaped elimination in the last ۳۲ against Japan, they need an improved performance against Norway – one of the dark horses at this tournament.

Spearheaded by Haaland and Martin Odegaard, Norway arrive with bragging rights – they are one of only three countries Brazil have faced at a World Cup without registering at least one victory.

How did Brazil and Norway reach the round of ۱۶?

Brazil finished at the top of Group C, with wins over Scotland and Haiti, and a draw with Morocco. They fought from a goal down to beat Japan ۲-۱ in stoppage time in the last ۳۲.

Norway came second in Group I, winning against Iraq and Senegal and falling to France. They sealed a late ۲-۱ victory over Ivory Coast in the last ۳۲ – the Scandinavian nation’s first World Cup knockout victory after previous exits to Italy in ۱۹۳۸ and ۱۹۹۸.

Can Haaland extend Norway’s dream run?

Be it for club or country, towering forward Haaland’s impact cannot be understated.

Of the ۱۰ goals Norway have scored at the tournament, Haaland is responsible for half – numbers that are remarkable for a ۲۵-year-old making his World Cup debut.

Come Sunday, Norway will need their ۱.۹۵-metre- (۶.۴ft)-tall, pony-tailed talisman to strike again if they are to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

Norway could take inspiration from their ۱۹۹۸ World Cup side, which famously beat Brazil ۲-۱ in a group game. And they need not look further than their coach Stale Solbakken – a midfielder in that Norwegian squad – for words of advice.

“Brazil are favourites, of course they are, but we are hopeful that we will give them a match, and we are not playing the game for fun – we are playing to win the game and to reach the quarterfinals,” said Solbakken. “It’s possible, but it’s very difficult.”

The Norwegians will be wary of Brazil’s very own trump card Vinicius, whose four goals at the tournament have made him the team’s leading scorer and most influential player. Vinicius became the first Brazilian since Ronaldo and Rivaldo in ۲۰۰۲ to score in all three group stage matches at a World Cup. That was the last time Brazil lifted the trophy.

Brazil vs Norway prediction

The Opta supercomputer gives Brazil a ۵۳.۶ percent likelihood of winning in regulation time, while Norway’s chances of winning are ۲۲.۴ percent.

The model estimates a ۲۴ percent probability of the game going to extra time.

Brazil vs Norway: Kickoff time, TV channel

• Brazil: SBT, CazeTV (۴pm, Brasilia Standard Time)
• Norway: TV۲, NRK (۹pm, Central European Summer Time)
• United Kingdom: ITV۱, ITVX, STV, STV Player (۸pm, British Summer Time)
• United States: FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock (۴pm, Eastern Daylight Time)

To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.

Who will the winner face in the quarterfinals?

The winner of the Brazil vs Norway match will face either Mexico or England in the quarterfinals in Miami on Saturday, July ۱۱.

Brazil vs Norway: Head-to-head

Norway hold the rare distinction of never having lost to Brazil, with two wins and two draws from their four previous meetings, including a memorable ۲-۱ victory over Brazil in the group stage of the ۱۹۹۸ World Cup.

Brazil and Norway last met in a friendly in ۲۰۰۶, which ended ۱-۱.

More worryingly for Ancelotti, Brazil have been eliminated from each of their last six World Cup knockout ties against European opponents since beating Germany in the ۲۰۰۲ final.

Brazil vs Norway: Team news

Brazil’s Lucas Paqueta picked up a hamstring injury in the last game, while Raphinha, who also picked up the same issue in the second game, has resumed individual training and could make the bench.

Norway’s Julian Ryerson is out with a thigh injury.

Brazil’s predicted lineup

(۴-۳-۳): Alisson (goalkeeper); Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Santos; Guimaraes, Casemiro, Martinelli; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius

Norway’s predicted lineup

(۴-۳-۳): Nyland (goalkeeper); Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa