Brazil await Norway as Vinícius Júnior targets the World Cup dream
Brazil on Sunday, and Vinícius Júnior is coming for you
Your World Cup is still alive. Norway face Brazil in the Round of 16 on Sunday, July 5 (1). Vinícius Júnior has made it personal, he told the Brazilian press this match "would mean everything" (1). Brazil have not looked invincible. Lucas Paquetá is out injured and Raphinha remains a doubt for the clash (3). Carlo Ancelotti will have to shuffle. The match kicks off at 17:00 Brasília time (3).
"One of the best countries in the world"
Your players are not hiding from the challenge. Kristoffer Ajer called Brazil "one of the best countries in the world" and said he could name "so many superstars" when asked about their attack (2). Erling Haaland and Jørgen Strand Larsen echoed the respect, but Ajer was clear the squad will "analyze them well and arrive prepared" (2). No fear. Just readiness.
Solbakken's swipe at Sweden
Ståle Solbakken found time for a dig at the neighbours. "The most important thing Sweden has done is stop the kamikaze football," he told a press conference, aiming directly at former Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson after their early exit (4). Norway are still standing. Solbakken knows it.
Guidetti tips his hat
Even the Swedes are applauding. Former striker John Guidetti said Solbakken has gone "from being extremely criticized to being close to knighted" (5). That is the scale of what this run means.
The nation is feeling it
Solbakken put it plainly: "We live in a terrible world. But we are together about something in Norway now. It moves me" (7). Aftenposten compared the celebrations to the peace days of 1945, writing that young Norwegians "feel a pull" they have never experienced before (8). Twenty-eight years since the last World Cup knockout appearance. The country is alive.
Haaland's club manager is watching nervously
Enzo Maresca has a problem, and it is your striker. Haaland's deep World Cup run means a shortened summer and a workload headache for Manchester City before the new season (6). That is a Maresca problem. Not yours.
Sources
- 1. aftenposten.no — Superstjernen som vil ødelegge Norges VM-eventyr: – Ville betydd alt
- 2. ge.globo.com — "Superestrelas", "altíssimo nível" e "um dos melhores técnicos": noruegueses rasgam elogios ao Brasil
- 3. ge.globo.com — VC Escala: monte o time ideal do Brasil para enfrentar a Noruega nas oitavas da Copa do Mundo
- 4. expressen.se — Solbakken med hård kritik mot Jon Dahl Tomasson
- 5. expressen.se — John Guidetti hyllar Norge: ”Måste lyfta på hatten”
- 6. readmancity.com — Erling Haaland Brazil Test Gives Enzo Maresca Manchester City Workload Problem
- 7. fvn.no — – Vi lever i en forferdelig verden. Men vi er sammen om noe i Norge nå. Det rører meg.
- 8. aftenposten.no — VM-festen rører Norge: – Unge nordmenn kjenner et sug