Norway are in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time after beating Brazil 2-1, with Erling Haaland scoring twice late on to decide the match. Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot in added time, but Brazil could not recover.
The result was framed in historic terms by Norway coach Ståle Solbakken, who praised his squad’s collective mentality and culture after the win. Haaland also underlined the scale of the moment, saying he wished he could have joined the celebrations taking place back home.
A key turning point came at half-time, when Solbakken changed both wingers in an effort to create more possession in dangerous areas. Brazil had already missed a major chance before the break, with Bruno Guimarães seeing a penalty saved while the game was still 0-0.
For Brazil, the defeat starts an uncomfortable review under Carlo Ancelotti, who said the Seleção must continue into a new cycle with fresh players. Neymar’s post-match comments suggested he may be stepping away from international football, though that remains short of a formal confirmation.
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