Solbakken warns Ancelotti as Norway eye Brazil upset

Solbakken fires a warning at Ancelotti

Ståle Solbakken is not here to make up the numbers. "Pode esperar. Estamos chegando", "You can wait. We're coming", was his message to Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Norway's round-of-16 clash with Brazil on Sunday (7). Your team has won three of four at this World Cup, back in the knockout stage after 28 years.

Paquetá out, Brazil scramble

Brazil will line up without Lucas Paquetá. The midfielder is injured and misses Sunday's match (5). Raphinha is also in a race to recover, leaving Ancelotti with selection headaches in two key positions (5).

The Athletic says Norway are the biggest upset pick

Seven of 13 journalists at The Athletic are backing Norway to knock Brazil out. Stuart James wrote: "It would be an upset by the weight of history, but maybe not by current form. Norway won three of four at this World Cup and have an extraordinary goalscorer in Erling Haaland. All the ingredients are there" (8).

Gabriel vs Haaland, the duel that defines the tie

The BBC calls it the best individual battle at this World Cup: Gabriel against Haaland (4). The two know each other from the Premier League. Haaland stands between Brazil and the quarter-finals, and Marca frames it as decisive for the Ballon d'Or, one of Haaland or Vinícius Júnior will go home early (3).

Berg makes history, three generations deep

Patrick Berg has become the first Norwegian to represent three generations of the same family in the national team. His grandfather Harald and father Ørjan both wore the shirt before him (1). The Bodø/Glimt captain once said: "I feel Glimt blood runs in my veins" (1). On Sunday, he starts a World Cup knockout match.

Fan reactions

Fans are loose and confident. An Erling Haaland chill-posing photo did the rounds on the Manchester City subreddit, captioned "My man Haaland chilling ahead of Norway vs Brazil" link. The mood: why not us?