Ancelotti: We have no specific plan to contain Haaland

Carlo Ancelotti has said Brazil will not prepare a special individual plan to stop Erling Haaland when they face Norway in the World Cup last 16.

Speaking before the match, the Brazil coach said the team would focus on its overall structure and on the strengths of the opposition rather than assigning one defender solely to Haaland. He added that Gabriel Magalhães knows the striker well from repeated meetings and that Brazil have already taken his danger into account.

Ancelotti also discussed how Brazil will replace the injured Lucas Paquetá. He said the squad does not have another player with exactly the same qualities, and that the choice will be based in part on defensive work down the left side when Brazil do not have possession. Martinelli and Danilo were both named as players able to do that job.

The coach gave an update on Raphinha, too, saying the winger has trained in the last two sessions and could come off the bench, though he is not yet fully ready.

Ancelotti also praised Martin Ødegaard and called him a very intelligent player who has developed into an important figure for Arsenal.