Norway projected lineup vs. Brazil and the Julian Ryerson question
Norway projected lineup vs. Brazil and the Julian Ryerson question
Kristie Ackert, USA TODAYSun, July 5, 2026 at 10:04 AM UTC
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Norway is one of the feel-good stories of the tournament, back in the round of 16 for the first time in 28 years and carrying the World Cup's hottest striker into a matchup it has never lost.
Coach Stale Solbakken rested most of his starters in the group-stage loss to France and that gamble kept his best players fresh for Sunday's match with Brazil at MetLife Stadium.
Projected Norway lineup vs. Brazil
Goalkeeper: Orjan Nyland
Defenders: Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe
Midfielders: Sander Berge, Patrick Berg, Martin Odegaard
Forwards: Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa
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The one question in defense
Right back Julian Ryerson is in doubt. He has been dealing with a thigh injury and returned to training only this week, with his readiness rated as a coin flip. If he cannot go, Pedersen keeps the spot he has filled well. The center back pairing is also worth watching, with Heggem and Leo Ostigard both in the mix along with Ajer.
The face of the franchise
Erling Haaland has scored five goals in his first World Cup, finding the net in every game he has started, and accounts for half of Norway's goals in the tournament. His international numbers are remarkable with 60 goals in 53 games. Solbakken's entire plan is to get Haaland the ball as he runs behind the defense, so Brazil's two center backs, Marquinhos and Gabriel, will have their hands full.
Who supports Haaland?
Martin Odegaard is the captain and the creator. He has assists in three straight World Cup games. If he gets space to turn and find his teammates making runs, Norway is a threat. Oscar Bobb is pushing to start after playing well as a substitute in the last game.
The catch
Norway can score, but they can also be beaten. The defense has looked shaky at times, and Brazil is fast on the break, which is exactly the kind of thing that has hurt Norway before. Even so, this is a team that has never lost to Brazil in four tries. That includes the famous 2-1 upset at the 1998 World Cup, a game Solbakken played in himself.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norway projected starting lineup vs. Barzil, is Julian Ryerson fit
Source: “AOL Sports”
