Brazil have not formulated an ‘anti-Haaland plan’, insists Ancelotti ahead of Norway clash

Carlo Ancelotti has not drawn up a selected plan to cease Erling Haaland forward of Brazil’s World Cup round-of-16 conflict with Norway on Sunday.

After 2-1 victories for each groups within the spherical of 32, with Brazil coming again to defeat Japan whereas Norway edged out Ivory Coast, they are going to do battle for a quarter-final spot.

It will likely be the fifth assembly between Brazil and Norway in all competitions, and the second at a World Cup following a 2-1 win for the Vikings in 1998. 

In truth, Norway are unbeaten in all 4 earlier video games between the perimeters (W2 D2), whereas this shall be their first assembly to function Haaland.

The Manchester Metropolis striker has 5 objectives in three outings at this World Cup, having been rested for Norway’s ultimate group-stage sport versus France. General, he has 25 objectives in his final 13 aggressive internationals, netting in each a type of matches.

Haaland may now change into simply the eighth European participant to attain in every of his first 4 World Cup appearances, and the primary since Italy’s Christian Vieiri in 1998, however Ancelotti has warned towards inserting an excessive amount of concentrate on Norway’s quantity 9.

“I do not suppose there may be such a factor as an ‘anti-Haaland’ plan,” Ancelotti mentioned. “I need not inform my gamers find out how to defend, they’ve confronted one another a number of occasions.

“Everybody is aware of how he works. I’ve nothing to clarify to my defenders about find out how to play towards him.

“They’ve clearly performed towards him a number of occasions, so we’re solely centered on being well-prepared for the match, understanding the fundamental traits of the opponent, and we all know that they’re very harmful offensively.

“Norway is a difficult group, a group that has construction, has superb organisation, so we now have to play at our greatest stage, however I believe we’re at a time after we can play at our greatest stage, as a result of we’re assured and have come out of a difficult match towards Japan.”

Norway boss Stale Solbakken additionally most popular to concentrate on the groups’ general matchup, somewhat than be drawn into commenting on Haaland’s earlier duels with Premier League rival Gabriel Magalhaes, who will associate Marquinhos on the coronary heart of Brazil’s backline. 

“Brazil has among the finest pairs of defenders on this match, two gamers who’re at a top-notch worldwide stage,” Solbakken mentioned. 

“There shall be some robust duels between them and Erling, however it’s extra Brazil versus Norway for me.”

However Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes – one in all a number of gamers within the Selecao ranks that faces Haaland recurrently at membership stage – is aware of the significance of protecting him uninvolved. 

“I’ve performed towards him and for me, he is among the finest strikers on this planet, together with [Harry] Kane,” the Newcastle United man mentioned. “We’ve to attempt to forestall the ball from reaching him. 

“It is marking whereas attacking, as we are saying. There ought to at all times be somebody caught to him in order to not give him area, as a result of we all know that with one ball he can resolve it; we should not give him that ball.”

Brazil will welcome Raphinha again into their ranks after the Barcelona ahead suffered an harm in the course of the group stage, whereas it stays to be seen whether or not Ancelotti will make adjustments to his lineup after Gabriel Martinelli determined the Japan sport off the bench.