Are they really better than the national team that beat Brazil? The answer will surprise you.

A football expert has drawn a striking comparison between the 1998 Norwegian national team that famously defeated Brazil and the squad expected to face Iraq in their opening match. The analysis, published by Aftenposten, delves into various aspects of team performance to assess their relative strengths.

Lars Tjærnås, a football expert, evaluated the 1998 team's probable starting lineup against Brazil with the likely starters for the upcoming Iraq game. His assessment extends beyond individual players to encompass the broader elements of the team, including squad depth, the effectiveness of the support staff, and the coaching strategies employed.

Tjærnås acknowledges the immense evolution of football over the past 28 years, particularly in terms of physicality and tempo. His evaluation is therefore benchmarked against the absolute world elite of each respective era, aiming to provide a nuanced perspective on how the teams stack up in the modern game.