Brazil up against Norway curse to keep Hexa dream alive

In World Cups, history is usually in Brazil’s favour no matter the opponent.

The five-time world champions have won more matches than any other side in the World Cup, 247, have scored more goals than any other country, 79, and have beaten every team they have ever faced at the biggest stage, except one.

Norway, who have returned to the World Cup this year after a 28-year gap, have been Brazil’s Achilles heel in World Cups. In their only previous meeting in the tournament, back in 1998, the South Americans lost 2-1 at the group stage.

Brazil have faced Norway three more times in international friendlies, but are yet to beat them. Their record against the Scandinavian side stands at two defeats, two draws, and zero wins.

On Tuesday, after Norway’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in the Round of 32, Brazil will have to face the Norwegians in a World Cup once again, and if the South Americans want to keep their ‘Mission Hexa’ on track, they will have to overcome their Norway hoodoo.

Brazil’s previous World Cup defeat against Norway had come in dramatic fashion. In that match, Brazil took a lead in the 78th minute, thanks to Bebeto.

The Norwegians then scored twice within seven minutes, with Tore Andre Flo equalising in the 83rd minute from a counterattack and six minutes later, Kjetil Rekdal converting a penalty to pull off the major upset.

That win propelled Norway to the Round of 16 as group runners-up, behind Brazil.

Norway’s journey, however, didn’t progress any further as they lost 1-0 to Italy in the Round of 16. Brazil, meanwhile, progressed to the final, where they were bested by France 3-0.

In the ongoing World Cup, after a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Morocco, Brazil regained their groove with 3-0 wins over both Haiti and Scotland.

In the Round of 32, they conceded first against Japan in the first half, but equalised soon after the break through a Casemiro header.

Gabriel Martinelli then scored a stoppage-time winner as Brazil booked their place in the last 16.

Norway, on the other hand, had secured a place in the knockouts after their first two matches – a 4-1 win over Iraq and a 3-2 triumph over Senegal.

They fielded a second-string side against France in their final group match, which they lost 4-1.

Haaland, who had scored a brace in the first two games, did not feature against France, as the Norway manager wanted to keep him fresh for the knockouts.

The Manchester City forward returned to action against Ivory Coast, and it was his tap-in goal in the 86th minute that earned them a ticket to the knockout stage.

Although history is on Norway’s side against Brazil, Haaland said that anything more Norway gain from their World Cup campaign would be a ‘bonus’.

“It’s history, it feels unbelievable,” said the striker. “We managed to qualify for the first time in 28 years, we managed to go through the group stage and now we’ve managed to go through to the next round and meet Brazil in New York.

“It’s incredible, so now everything is a bonus. Now we can play with our shoulders down and just enjoy it because I don’t think we’ll ever have this feeling again.”