Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti insists he has no intention of devising a “plan against Erling Haaland” as his side look to pin down the Manchester City striker and leapfrog Norway to secure their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
After winning Group C, Ancelotti’s side came from behind to beat Japan in the round of 16 match with a stoppage-time goal from Gabriel Martinelli.
Brazil will face another stern test of their hopes of winning a sixth World Cup crown when they take on Norway at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, with the winners meeting either England or hosts Mexico.
Ancelotti, however, insists his players must focus on shutting down a well-prepared Norway side as a whole, rather than just watching Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães try to keep Haaland under close control once again.
“I don’t think there is such a thing as a ‘plan against Haaland,'” Ancelotti told a news conference. “I don’t have to tell my players how to defend, they’ve faced each other a few times.
“Our team is in optimal shape. However, we need to continue to improve.”
Brazil denies it planned a plot solely to stop Erling Haaland. Photo by Joe Pryor/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Ancelotti added: “Everyone knows how he (Haaland) works. I have no need to explain to my defenders how to play against him.”
“Obviously they’ve played against him a few times, so we’re just focused on being well prepared for the match, understanding the main characteristics of the opponent and we know they’re very dangerous in attack.
“Norway is a difficult team, a team that has structure, a very good organization, so we have to play at our best level, but I think we are at a time where we can play at our best level because we are confident and came out of a difficult last match against Japan.”
Bruno Guimaraes said of Haaland: “He’s really something else. We have to mark and attack. We need to attack, but we have to make sure someone stays with him because with one ball he can decide the match and we don’t want to give it to him.”
Brazil will be without midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who picked up a hamstring problem against Japan, but Barcelona striker Rafinha could return from a thigh injury.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken also insists Sunday’s match in East Rutherford will be about more than just whether Haaland can get the better of the formidable partnership between Brazilian centre-backs Gabriel and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos.
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“Brazil has one of the best back pairings in this tournament, two players of the highest international level,” Solbakken said. “There will be tough fights between them and Erling, but for me it’s more about Brazil versus Norway.”
Solbakken added: “Brazil are the favourites, of course, but we hope to give them the match – and we have to be on top, otherwise we won’t have a chance.”
Solbakken expects Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson to be available after a thigh injury kept him out of the second Group I game against Senegal, while defender Holmgren Pedersen is under observation after some “coughing and grinding.”
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.