Brazil vs. Norway World Cup prediction: Odds, picks, best bets for Sundays match

Brazil and Norway collide in a marquee match headlining Sunday’s World Cup Round of 16 slate. Carlo Ancelotti has made all the necessary adjustments and is just one victory away from leading Seleção to their third straight quarter-final appearance.Vinicius Jr.

continues to be a reliable attacking threat for Brazil, which has secured two clean sheets before this crucial match. It took a late goal from substitute Gabriel Martinelli to complete Brazil’s come-from-behind win over Japan in the Round of 32, after trailing 1-0 at halftime.Casemiro found the back of the net in the 56th minute to tie the score at 1-1, and the momentum suddenly shifted to the five-time World Cup winners. Erling Haaland and Norway withstood a surge from Ivory Coast to win 2-1, with the Norwegian star’s go-ahead boot in the 86th minute pushing Norway into the final 16.

The prolific scorer now has five goals for the Vikings in this tournament. Haaland will now clash with Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães in a Premier League rivalry poised to take center stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Oddsmakers have Brazil installed as -260 betting favorites to advance to the final eight and -125 on the three-way moneyline to win within 90 minutes.Norway enters at +250 to advance and as +360 moneyline dogs on FanDuel Sportsbook.At this stage of the World Cup, the outcome can hinge on a single touch or a mistake from either side. Brazil has been criticized throughout its run, yet Seleção somehow keeps advancing.

Even when Raphina went down with an injury against Haiti, Ancelotti game-planned perfectly to keep Vinicius Jr.at the forefront of their attack. The result: 6.5 shots on goal per match, fourth-best among teams remaining in the tournament. Whether it is Matheus Cunha or Bruno Guimarães alongside him, Vini Jr.

has scored four times, and his overall presence around the box will almost certainly prompt Norway to send additional defenders to mark him.Haaland poses a signific...