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Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken stood at a press conference podium on July 4, 2026, and essentially told the world his plan to stop one of the most dangerous attackers on the planet. His approach to containing Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Brazil? Collective effort, sustained defensive support from full-backs and wing-backs, and refusing to let the Brazilian forward find open space. He called Vinícius a “dancer” with the ball.
Norway hasn’t played in a World Cup since 1998. That’s a 28-year drought, long enough that most of the current squad wasn’t alive the last time the country competed on this stage.
Solbakken himself played in that 1998 tournament. Norway beat Brazil in the group stage that year, one of the most celebrated results in Norwegian football history. Now he’s back, this time from the sideline, trying to replicate the magic.
His tactical blueprint centers on denying Vinícius Júnior the one-on-one situations where the forward is most lethal. Solbakken wants his wing-backs to double up defensively, creating numerical advantages on the flanks rather than leaving any single defender isolated against the Brazilian’s dribbling.
Solbakken acknowledged that Brazil’s overall attacking quality makes this a formidable challenge regardless of any single tactical adjustment, particularly under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Norway has also prepared for extra time and penalties. Which tells you something about the mentality: they’re not expecting to blow Brazil off the pitch. They’re planning to survive, compete, and find moments to strike.
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