EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Ståle Solbakken knows all about Norway’s stunning upset of Brazil during the 1998 World Cup. He was a reserve and watched from the sideline in Marseille as his teammates delivered arguably the biggest victory in men’s soccer in the Scandinavian country’s history.Now coaching the national team, he also knows facing Brazil on Sunday in the round of 16 is much different than that game nearly three decades ago in group play when his powerhouse opponent had nothing to play for. This time, a spot in the quarterfinals is at stake, and while Solbakken acknowledges it would still be a surprise if Norway knocks off the five-time World Cup champions, it is a realistic possibility in a matchup that is much more evenly matched.“I still see obviously Brazil is the favorites (but) I don’t think they are big, big, big favorites, which they may be had been some years ago,” Solbakken said Saturday at a news conference ahead of the game. “We still need to be our very, very best. Otherwise, we have no chance. But if we are on our very, very best, then we have a chance.”
The oddsmakers back the 58-year-old’s assessment, with Brazil a slight favorite to advance to play the winner of the titanic matchup between Mexico and England on July 11 outside Miami. Seleção has won three in a row since opening the tournament with a draw against Morocco, also at the Meadowlands in northern New Jersey.
