NEW YORK — Norway’s coach Stale Solbakken expressed it is a “great honour” to go up against Carlo Ancelotti in the World Cup round-of-16 match against Brazil this Sunday. He addressed claims of disrespecting the Brazil coach, following a locker room statement where he remarked, “Ancelotti, we are coming for you!”
The Norwegian team enters the game in New Jersey boasting an impressive unbeaten record against Brazil, with no losses in their four previous encounters with the five-time World Cup champions.
After Erling Haaland’s late 86th-minute goal secured a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the round of 32 in Dallas, Solbakken delivered a motivational speech to his players, emphasizing their intention to challenge Ancelotti and his prestigious career with clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain.
However, ahead of the matchup with Brazil, Solbakken was quick to commend Ancelotti as one of the greatest coaches in European football history. He remarked, “It was only to praise him because he is indeed one of the greatest coaches, with five Champions League titles and victories in various leagues.”
Solbakken continued, “The way he interacts with others in football is exemplary. It is tremendous for the sport that he is now leading such a prominent international team. It’s an honor for us, but tomorrow our goal is to prevail against him and Brazil to advance in the tournament.”
Norway’s impressive history against Brazil dates back to 1988, including a victory in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup held in France.
Solbakken stated, “We can beat Brazil if we give our absolute best; otherwise, we stand no chance. Brazil is still the favorite, although not as heavily favored as they have been in previous years. It would be surprising if we were to win. While our team is performing well and our style plays to our strengths, quantifying our chances is difficult.”
“Brazil has a plethora of talented players, and it’s essential we minimize their individual impacts. Yet, primarily, we must focus on neutralizing Brazil as a cohesive unit,” he added.
Recalling Norway’s 1998 victory, Solbakken noted its significance for Norwegian football, though he emphasized that Brazil had already secured their progression in that match with nothing to lose. “This time, it’s a knockout game, and both teams are vying for advancement.”
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With several knockout stage matches having ended in extra time and penalties, Solbakken revealed Norway’s preparations in case the game goes to a shoot-out. “We have adequately prepared for penalties. The players know their sequence for shooting,” he stated confidently.