Will Brazil be sent packing?published at 20:59 Moscow time
Brazil – Norway (21:00 BST)
Chris Sutton
Former England striker BBC Sport
If Brazil wins this World Cup, it will be thanks to their coach Carlo Ancelotti.
In the round of 16 win over Japan, he showed once again that he always finds a way – his Brazilian team don’t have a specific style, but they are able to adapt and play almost by feel, depending on how the game goes.
But we saw against Japan that they didn’t have the strength to compete in the middle of the park – Japan simply ran past Casemiro to score their goal – and Norway will feel they can hurt them too.
I think everyone is looking forward to Brazil’s Arsenal center midfielder Gabriel renewing his rivalry with Norway’s Manchester City striker Erling Haaland on the international stage, and I don’t think he will keep Haaland quiet.
You’ve probably seen the statistic that Norway is the only team Brazil has never beaten (they’ve drawn twice and lost twice in four meetings since 1998), and that Brazil have lost to the first European team they’ve played in the playoffs at every World Cup since 2002.
This time? He has to go the distance and I have a feeling Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland will be their hero in the penalty shootout to solve this problem.
Sutton’s forecast: 2-2 after extra time. Norway will win on penalties.