3 min learnJul 5, 2026 03:58 PM IST
Norway might not carry the heft of identify that Brazil does however the Europeans include the burden of getting denied Italy an automated spot on the World Cup and a balanced staff that has some gamers round whom groups have to make plans.
Erling Haaland scores at an astonishing charge for the Norwegians and has been a part of a World Cup golden boot race for the ages. He now encounters a Brazil staff that has met this occasion with an uncharacteristic pragmatism – one that may be a direct results of Carlo Ancelotti taking up the reins.
Forward of the large conflict between the 2 groups on the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, Ancelotti was requested about what Brazil’s containment plan for Haaland can be.
“I don’t have to clarify to my defenders how Haaland performs. They know him higher than I do as a result of they’ve performed towards him many instances,” mentioned Ancelotti.
It was a reference to the various battles that Haaland and Brazil’s central defender Gabriel Magalhaes have been part of within the Premier League.
Taking part in for Arsenal, the duels between Gabriel and Manchester Metropolis’s Haaland have typically determined Premier League titles. There’s a sense of unhealthy blood between the 2 as nicely with frequent bursts of aggression throughout matches – moments that always get transformed into reels and gleefully eaten up by followers from each side.
Now on the worldwide degree, the tables have reversed however ever so barely. Haaland, a part of a membership that possessed a number of ranges of particular person expertise at every place, performs for the Norwegians, who don’t have as most of the large names as Brazil do. Gabriel, who at Arsenal is often a part of the chasing pack which are making an attempt to dismantle Manchester Metropolis, finds himself able the place Brazil are clearly favoured over Norway.
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“We’re centered on getting ready nicely for the match, clearly together with Haaland’s traits, which we should take into consideration as a result of he’s a really, very harmful ahead,” mentioned Ancelotti.
Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes laid out their Haaland plan. Cease the ball from attending to the ahead earlier than he may cause any injury.
“We’ve to attempt to forestall the ball from reaching him,” Guimaraes mentioned. “We will likely be attacking, however there at all times needs to be somebody glued to him so we don’t give him house, as a result of we all know that with only one ball he can resolve a match.”