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Coach Says Morocco ‘No Longer a Surprise’ After Reaching World Cup Quarters
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Sports

Coach Says Morocco ‘No Longer a Surprise’ After Reaching World Cup Quarters

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Norway's coach acknowledges Brazil is the favorite but believes his team has a realistic chance in the World Cup knockout match.
  • He contrasts the current scenario with Norway's 1998 upset win, noting Brazil had less to play for then.
  • The match features star strikers Erling Haaland for Norway and Vinícius Júnior for Brazil, with both teams highlighting their strengths.

Ståle Solbakken, coach of the Norwegian national football team, recognizes Brazil as the favorite heading into their World Cup round of 16 clash, but insists it's not an insurmountable challenge. He recalls Norway's famous 1998 upset victory over Brazil, noting that the circumstances were different as Brazil had nothing to play for in that group stage match.

I still see obviously Brazil is the favorites (but) I don’t think they are big, big, big favorites, which they may be had been some years ago.

— Ståle SolbakkenThe Norway coach assessed Brazil's status as favorites ahead of their World Cup match.

"I still see obviously Brazil is the favorites (but) I don’t think they are big, big, big favorites, which they may be had been some years ago," Solbakken stated at a press conference. He emphasized that for Norway to have a chance, they must perform at their absolute best. "We still need to be our very, very best. Otherwise, we have no chance. But if we are on our very, very best, then we have a chance."

We still need to be our very, very best. Otherwise, we have no chance. But if we are on our very, very best, then we have a chance.

— Ståle SolbakkenSolbakken outlined the conditions for Norway to potentially defeat Brazil.

Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, has won three consecutive matches since drawing with Morocco in their opener. Norway also secured a win against Senegal to reach the knockout stage. Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, described Norway as a challenging opponent due to their strong structure and talented players. Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães added, "They have great players. They are not in the knockout rounds by accident."

They have great players. They are not in the knockout rounds by accident.

— Bruno GuimarãesThe Brazil midfielder acknowledged the quality of the Norwegian team.

The match pits two of the tournament's standout strikers against each other: Norway's Erling Haaland and Brazil's Vinícius Júnior. Haaland has scored five goals in the World Cup and boasts an impressive international record. He will face a tough challenge against Brazil's central defense duo of Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos. Solbakken views the game as "Brazil against Norway" rather than a direct duel between Haaland and the defenders. Meanwhile, Brazil's attack is led by Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha, who have combined for seven goals.

One is a machine that you can see the accelerations and the great physique, and the other is more a ballerina that can dance with the ball.

— Ståle SolbakkenThe Norway coach described the contrasting styles of Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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