{"id":189975,"date":"2026-07-04T19:32:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T01:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=189975"},"modified":"2026-07-04T19:32:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T01:02:57","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-norway-litmus-test-up-next-for-brazil-in-quest-for-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=189975","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026: Norway litmus test up next for Brazil in quest for glory"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

Brazil\u2019s FIFA World Cup campaign has offered reassurance and alarm in almost equal measure. Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s side has won three of its four matches but needed a 95th-minute Gabriel Martinelli strike to squeeze past Japan in the round of 32. It is yet to fully hit its stride and, as a result, Sunday\u2019s quarterfinal against Norway feels awkwardly poised.<\/p>\n

The fixture comes with a historical quirk. Brazil has never beaten Norway, drawing twice and losing twice in four previous meetings, including a 2-1 defeat at the 1998 World Cup when Tore Andre Flo and Kjetil Rekdal overturned Bebeto\u2019s opener. Norway coach Stale Solbakken was a player on that side.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | Salah and Egypt hold their nerve to claim a piece of World Cup history in shootout win<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

While Solbakken is quick to show Brazil the respect it deserves, he insists that this will be no walkover for the five-time champions. \u201cI think Brazil are finding their feet, gradually getting better and better, and they have strong players in all positions. We\u2019re looking forward to the challenge,\u201d he said. \u201cBrazil 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 go into the quarterfinals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brazil also has concerns over personnel. Lucas Paquet\u00e1\u2019s injury against Japan has left Ancelotti short of a midfielder who knits his side together. Raphinha has returned to training, and Neymar is fit again, though Ancelotti is unlikely to hand him a start. Endrick, who offered a direct threat after coming on at the beginning of the second half against Japan, and Martinelli, after his dramatic strike, are in contention for starting XI berths.<\/p>\n

\"Norway,<\/p>\n
Norway, meanwhile, arrives after a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast. Its fans will be gearing up the cheer their side through its biggest hurdle yet.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n REUTERS\n <\/p>\n

\"lightbox-info\"\/<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\n

Norway, meanwhile, arrives after a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast. Its fans will be gearing up the cheer their side through its biggest hurdle yet.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n REUTERS\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior has scored in all three group games, while Bruno Guimar\u00e3es leads the tournament with four assists. The Sele\u00e7ao\u2019s 2-1 win over Japan was its first comeback victory in a World Cup knockout match since the 2002 quarterfinal against England.<\/p>\n

Norway, meanwhile, arrives after a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast. Martin \u00d8degaard has assisted in three straight World Cup matches, while Erling Haaland has already scored five goals in this edition.<\/p>\n

Brazil, too, is wary of the Manchester City forward, who scored the winner against the West Africans after being largely peripheral for much of the night. \u201cHaaland is a great player, and he has already shown that on several occasions,\u201d Brazil striker Matheus Cunha said ahead of the match.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | Klopp confirms Germany talks and says he\u2019s \u2019recharged\u2019 since leaving Liverpool<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The pair have faced each other in the Premier League, representing rival Manchester clubs. \u201cBut we have to focus on the whole team, as they have other dangerous players \u2013 many of whom also play in England \u2013 making Norway one of the toughest opponents we could face at this stage,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

For all of Brazil\u2019s pedigree, this night might be decided by whether it can contain the most ruthless penalty-box striker of this generation. Against a side still searching for complete control, Haaland can punish even the briefest lapse.<\/p>\n

Published on Jul 04, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brazil\u2019s FIFA World Cup campaign has offered reassurance and alarm in almost equal measure. Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s side has won three of its four matches but needed a 95th-minute Gabriel Martinelli strike to squeeze past Japan in the round of 32. It is yet to fully hit its stride and, as a result, Sunday\u2019s quarterfinal against … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":189976,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AYON20PHOTO20BYLINEkojl.png","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":187584,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187584","url_meta":{"origin":189975,"position":0},"title":"Martinelli scores late as Brazil beat Japan 2-1, into World Cup last 16 | World Cup 2026 News","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Published On 29 Jun 202629 Jun 2026 Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner late in injury time to give five-time champions Brazil a 2-1 win over Japan in the World Cup round of 32 in Houston. Martinelli, who had come on as a second-half substitute, scored in the sixth minute of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26180696049826-1782763898.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26180696049826-1782763898.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26180696049826-1782763898.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26180696049826-1782763898.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26180696049826-1782763898.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, 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