Selection resumes training to define Paquetá's replacement and stop Haaland

The Brazilian team returns to work this Thursday (2), in New Jersey, to begin preparations on the field for the confrontation against Norway, valid for the quarter-finals of the World Cup. It will be the first tactical training session led by Carlo Ancelotti since the victory over Japan, and the technical committee's main mission will be to find Lucas Paquetá's replacement, in addition to defining the plan to neutralize Erling Haaland, the opponent's main highlight.

The activity will take place at 12pm (Brasília time), at Columbia Park CT, with the initial 15 minutes open to the press. Later, at 3:30 pm, striker Endrick will hold a press conference at The Ridge hotel, where the delegation is concentrated.

The preparation for Sunday's duel, at 5pm, at MetLife Stadium, will also include work on Friday and Saturday, before the delegation crosses the Hudson River towards the match stage.

Mystery about Paquetá and Raphinha
The team's biggest unknown remains the vacancy left by Lucas Paquetá, who suffered an injury to his left thigh during the victory over Japan. The CBF adopted a protocol of silence in relation to injured players and will not publish daily medical bulletins or recovery deadlines.

Internally, however, the scenario is different for both cases. The return of Raphinha, who is also treating a physical problem, is seen with more optimism for a possible continuation at some stage of the competition. The situation in Paquetá inspires greater caution.

Ancelotti's alternatives
This Thursday's training should begin to indicate which path will be followed by the Italian coach.

The alternative considered more balanced is the entry of Danilo Santos into midfield, forming the marking midfield with Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães. The idea would preserve defensive consistency without changing the team's offensive structure, freeing up the most advanced players.

Another possibility is a more offensive formation, with Matheus Cunha playing in a deeper role or Gabriel Martinelli centrally. The Arsenal striker gained strength in the dispute after coming on strong against Japan and scoring one of the qualifying goals.

There is also a third option, which involves using Endrick or Neymar as a reference in the attack. In this scenario, Matheus Cunha would be moved to play the role of playmaker, approaching the front men and forming an offensive quartet.

Fabinho and Éderson also appear among the alternatives to reinforce the midfield sector, depending on the strategy chosen to face the Norwegians.

Strong attack, vulnerable defense
Despite Brazilian favoritism, Norway arrives motivated by a consistent campaign. The team finished the first phase in second place in Group I, with victories over Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2), defeat to France (4-1) and qualification to the quarterfinals after beating Ivory Coast 2-1.

The main name is Erling Haaland. The striker scored five of the Norwegian team's ten goals in the World Cup and alone accounts for half of the team's offensive production, consolidating a strong dependence on the number 9.

At the same time, the defensive system has weaknesses. Norway conceded eight goals in four matches, a performance that could open up spaces for speed players, such as Vinícius Júnior and Martinelli, if Ancelotti opts for a more aggressive formation.

While Brazil works on the field, the atmosphere of the confrontation also gained an off-field ingredient. Part of the Norwegian press published headlines stating that "Brazil is shaking" before the duel, increasing the tone of the rivalry on the eve of the decision.

The winner of the clash between Brazil and Norway will face, in the World Cup semi-final, whoever advances from the duel between England and Mexico.

Without Germany, Brazil remains at the top of the list of World Cup champions

Source: CNN