Brazil forced Norway to go away from their preferred style and the Europeans still prevailed.
The Vikings stunned the five-time champions in what was their earliest elimination in a World Cup campaign since 1990. Meanwhile, the Europeans advanced to the quarter finals and kept their historic run going.
However, it didn’t go as many expected. Both sides played a different game to what they had shown in previous matches.
It was Brazil’s decisions that dictated how the game went. Norway wouldn’t have had this much possession if the Selecao hadn’t completely refused to keep the ball. Which is why we must start addressing Brazil first.
But huge credit to Stale Solbakken who embraced the ‘awkward’ scenario that Carlo Ancelotti created and left as the winner. Let’s dig in.
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets with Bet365
Not signed up to bet365 yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...
- Open an account (here's a link)
- Make a qualifying deposit of between £5* and £10*
- Claim the offer to receive three times your deposit in 'Free Bets'.
- To release your 'Free Bets', place qualifying bets to the value of your qualifying deposit and allow those bets to settle.
- Your 'Free Bets' will become available shortly after your qualifying bets have settled
- To use your 'Free Bets', select 'Use bet credits' in the bet slip.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
How did Norway beat Brazil?
Ancelotti’s initial strategy
Brazil, surprisingly, were happy to leave the ball with Norway. The Vikings aren’t really comfortable having to play on the front foot and dictate the terms of the match, rather doing better in transitions and set pieces. Not for nothing, they averaged exactly 50% possession heading into this game.
Meanwhile the Selecao felt like their best chance was to wait for Norway to eventually make mistakes and hit them on fast breaks. Funny thing is that is exactly what happened – they just failed to capitalise.
But the Vikings could have simply not accepted Brazil’s strategy. It would have led to both sides playing hot potato with the ball, wanting the other to control. Instead, they went for it despite not being what they do best or enjoy doing the most.
It made for longer passing sequences than they are used to, which often ended with unforced errors that led to good chances for Brazil. However, Bruno Guimaraes, Vinicius Junior and Endrick all missed theirs.
So it’s fair to say Ancelotti’s strategy not only made a lot of sense for tonight, but also worked.
Ancelotti’s second-half changes
However, his changes did not. In a game that he set his team up to defend, he finished with Endrick and Vinicius defending as wingers. Not only are they not well suited for the role, but also represent a huge downgrade in this regard compared to Rayan and Gabriel Martinelli.
Andreas Schjelderup had no problem getting past Endrick down the wing before setting Erling Haaland up for the opener. Additionally, Ederson – who had just come on – made two positional mistakes in the lead-up to the goal.
First he was out of position, allowing centre-back Torbjorn Heggem to carry the ball forward down the left-hand side. Then, he chose not to drop deep and create a three-on-two against Schjelderup and David Moller Wolfe.
Sky Bet Offer: Get £40 in free bets when you place any bet
Looking for some free bets to boost your betting fund? Sky Bet are offering customers the chance to get £40 in free bets when they sign up and place any qualifying bet.
- Sign up at Sky Bet using this link
- Place a qualifying bet of at least 5p on a single or each way bet at odds of 1/1 or greater, as your first bet
- Claim your £40 free bet bonus
18+ NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 4 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY.
When the Benfica winger got past Endrick, it then became a two-on-one. He used Wolfe’s overlapping run as threat while Danilo found himself between two attackers and crossed the ball perfectly for Haaland to head it into the net.
Neymar’s presence in itself didn’t exactly harm Brazil. He still looks out of shape – which is nothing new for anyone who watches the Brazilian league. But scored the consolation goal nonetheless.
However, it meant that Martinelli left the game and Endrick moved to the right wing. The Lyon forward himself did miss the biggest open-play chance of the game. But he also put himself in a great position to score in the first place – in his few minutes as the striker.
It was quite the contrast comparing to Solbakken’s substitutions. Schjelderup provided the assists for both Haaland goals, while Oscar Bobb added more pace, skill and central play from the right. The 58-year-old fully embraced having to play with the ball and made changes accordingly.
Haaland vs Magalhaes
Norway beat Brazil 2-0 and Erling Haaland scored both goals. That’s what it ultimately comes down to.
Before the game, English football fans were looking for the duels between Haaland and Gabriel Magalhaes, who have had a number of battles in the Premier League for Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively. And this part did not disappoint.
The striker won an aerial duel over the centre-back to score the opener, which basically decided the game. Haaland had already gotten the best out of Magalhaes in the first half, setting up club rival but national team teammate Martin Odegaard, but the No.10 stopped at Alisson.
Nyland the hero
While Haaland scored two to win it for Norway, Orjan Nyland prevented a few from going in on the other end.
Statistically, he prevented 0.76 goals, which is a good return for a goalkeeper that didn’t keep a clean sheet. The former Aston Villa shot-stopper did well to save a Bruno Guimaraes penalty but was helpless when Neymar took his.
He also denied Vinicius Junior with a difficult save in the first half. Norway’s hero has now entered villain territory from a Brazilian perspective, joining Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic in 2022 and Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois in 2018.
Read more: