Norway's Historic Win Over Brazil: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Insights
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Celebrates Norway's Triumph
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the former Swedish football star, expressed his admiration for Norway's remarkable victory against Brazil, likening it to Sweden's impressive third-place finish in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. This commentary was shared in a video by FOX Sports on X.
Following Norway's historic win that secured them a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, Ibrahimovic praised the team's resilience and tactical approach, while also critiquing Brazil's performance. He stated, "When the lion is hungry, he eats. This Norway reminds me of Sweden in '94. Let's see if they can achieve what Sweden did. Sweden finished third, and it's wonderful to see Norway continuing to push forward."
Zlatan Critiques Brazil's Performance
Ibrahimovic voiced his disappointment with Brazil's overall performance in the tournament, suggesting that the tactical adjustments made by coach Carlo Ancelotti were ineffective. He remarked, "Brazil has not convinced me since their opening match, and the changes Carlo made today did not yield results. In contrast, Solbakken's adjustments worked well for Norway, who seemed to embody 'Joga Bonito' while Brazil appeared to be lost in their approach." He humorously added, "They were celebrating before the victory, and now the Vikings are advancing to the next round."
Praise for Erling Haaland
Ibrahimovic also highlighted the performance of Norway's striker Erling Haaland, who netted two goals in the match. He stated, "We're enjoying Haaland. I mentioned before the game that he was the player to watch. Will he go a game without scoring? Not yet, as he added another two goals today."
Match Summary: Norway vs. Brazil
In a stunning upset, Norway defeated Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at MetLife Stadium, marking the first time Norway has reached the quarter-finals.
Despite Brazil's dominance for much of the match and a missed penalty by Bruno Guimaraes in the first half, Norway's goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made several key saves. Haaland's late goals were crucial, although Neymar scored a penalty in stoppage time for Brazil, which faced its seventh consecutive World Cup knockout defeat against European teams.