Ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup round of 16 clash between Brazil and Norway, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has taken a firm stance. The Italian tactician chose not to give special instructions or design a specific defensive strategy to neutralize Norwegian star Erling Haaland.
Ancelotti reasoned that the Brazilian players currently plying their trade in the Premier League have sufficient experience facing the sharp striker. According to him, regular encounters at the club level mean the Seleção squad is already very familiar with Haaland's characteristics and playing style, making additional guidance no longer urgent.
"I don't need to instruct the players on how to defend against him because they face him often on the pitch. Everyone knows how he plays," Ancelotti said in a press conference as reported by SkySports.
A line-up of Brazilian players such as Alisson Becker, Gabriel Magalhães, Bruno Guimarães, and Gabriel Martinelli are indeed regular opponents of Haaland in English football. Furthermore, the presence of Ederson Moraes, who was once Haaland's teammate at Manchester City, adds to the depth of information Brazil has regarding the opponent's strength.
Furthermore, Ancelotti reiterated that his team will not deploy a specific 'anti-Haaland' tactic. To him, Norway is an organizationally solid team, emphasizing the importance for Brazil to play collectively and perform at their peak to secure a ticket to the next round.
