Ancelotti's Brazil Prepares for Norway without Fear of Haaland
Carlo Ancelotti has faced enough great centre-forwards in his life to know one thing: the moment you build a game plan around fear of one man, you’ve already lost half the battle.
On Sunday at MetLife Stadium, Brazil stand one match away from the World Cup quarter-finals. Between them and the last eight: Norway, a rugged, organised side with Erling Haaland at the tip of the spear and the prospect of England or co-hosts Mexico waiting for the winners.
All the noise, naturally, circles around Haaland against Brazil’s imposing centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos. Ancelotti is not buying into the idea that the tie begins and ends there.
“I don’t think that there is such a thing as an ‘anti-Haaland’ plan,” he said in his pre-match press conference, cutting through the narrative with typical calm. “I don’t need to tell my players how to defend, they have faced each other a few times.”
Brazil arrive in New Jersey battle-hardened. They topped Group C, then had to dig deep against Japan in the last 32, coming from behind and only squeezing through thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Gabriel Martinelli. It was the kind of victory that leaves a scar and a spring in the step at the same time.
“Our team is in an optimal condition. However, we need to continue improving,” Ancelotti said, aware that the standard now rises with every whistle.
No illusions about Norway
Strip away the star names and the fixture looks like a clash of footballing cultures. Brazil, chasing a sixth World Cup crown, against a Norway side built on structure, discipline and brutal efficiency in transition.
Ancelotti’s admiration for Stale Solbakken’s team is clear. “Everyone knows how he (Haaland) works. I have nothing to explain to my defenders how to play against him,” he said. “We are only focused on being well prepared for the match, understanding the basic characteristics of the opponent and we know that they are very dangerous offensively.”
“Norway is a challenging team, a team that has structure, has very good organisation, so we have to play at our best level, but I think we are at a time when we can play at our best level, because we are confident and have come out of a challenging last match against Japan.”
The message is simple: respect the system, not just the striker.
Brazil will have to do it without Lucas Paqueta, who suffered a hamstring problem in that bruising contest with Japan. His absence removes an important link between midfield and attack, a player who knits Ancelotti’s possession game together and presses with intelligence.
There is, however, a potential boost. Barcelona forward Raphinha could return after a thigh injury, adding width, direct running and a left foot that can change a match in a heartbeat. If he is passed fit, Brazil’s front line instantly looks more balanced.
Solbakken: “It’s Brazil versus Norway, not Haaland versus Gabriel”
On the other side, Solbakken is just as keen to drag the spotlight away from the individual duel between his superstar striker and Brazil’s centre-backs.
“Brazil has one of the best pairs of defenders in this tournament, two players who are at a top-notch international level,” the Norway coach said. “There will be some tough duels between them and Erling, but it is more Brazil versus Norway for me.”
He knows the reality, though. Brazil are favourites. They always are at this stage of a World Cup, especially with momentum building.
“Brazil are favourites, of course they are,” Solbakken admitted. “But we are hopeful that we will give them a match – and we must be at our very, very best, otherwise we don’t have a chance.”
Norway’s preparation carries its own injury concerns. Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson is expected to be available after a thigh issue forced him off in their second Group I game against Senegal. His energy and aggression down the flank are central to Solbakken’s plan, both in shutting down Brazilian wide players and in launching counters.
Defender Holmgren Pedersen, meanwhile, is being monitored after “coughing and rasping” symptoms. Even minor doubts matter at this level; one missing piece can unravel a carefully drilled defensive line.
A night for giants
Strip away the tactical talk and the occasion sells itself. A World Cup knockout tie in East Rutherford, a Brazil side with scars and swagger, a Norway team desperate to prove it is more than just Haaland plus ten.
Ancelotti trusts his defenders to draw on their club battles with the Manchester City forward. Gabriel and Marquinhos have seen his runs, felt his power, learned the angles. They will need every ounce of that experience now.
Norway trust their structure. Brazil trust their pedigree.
Only one of them will still be trusting it when the lights go out at MetLife Stadium.
