Ancelotti sends personalised shirt to Norway coach after Brazil's World Cup exit

Carlo Ancelotti sent a personalised Brazil shirt to Norway head coach Stale Solbakken following Brazil’s 2-1 World Cup last-16 defeat on Sunday, drawing a line under a controversy that had simmered since the group stage. Erling Haaland scored twice to send Norway into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, where they will face England in Miami on Saturday.

Solbakken revealed the gesture at a press conference on Monday, describing it as an act of considerable class from the Italian. “I can say that he showed his enormous greatness after the match. He sent a representative in with a Brazilian shirt with my name on the back and a greeting. So it was strong stuff,” the Norwegian coach told reporters.

The backdrop to the goodwill exchange was a clip that surfaced after Norway’s last-32 win over the Ivory Coast, in which Solbakken could be heard declaring, “Carlo Ancelotti, we’re coming for you!” The comment drew a sharp reaction from Brazilian supporters, though Solbakken later clarified his words had been “taken out of context.”

Haaland, who has now scored in every knockout game of the tournament, was characteristically understated about his match-winning contribution. “If I get a chance or two, it usually ends up as a goal. I don’t know how I do it, but that’s how I do it,” he said. “I’m starting to realise now, I think, that it’s a gift from God.”

The striker also used the occasion to deliver a message about representing his country. “I hope that when you get a little older, you’ll see playing for Norway as the proudest thing you’ll ever do in your entire life — it’s absolutely insane.”

Solbakken admitted he was too wound up to join his staff’s celebrations after the final whistle, instead retreating to his room to rewatch the match. “I let the support staff celebrate for themselves. I was too tired, so I went to bed and watched the game again, and then I scrolled a little here and there and answered a few texts, and slept very little. But it was a good morning,” he said.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, moved to quash any suggestion he would resign following Brazil’s exit. “I don’t think this is the end. I think this is the start of a new cycle. I think we have done a good job, but this is football and this is sport. You just have to deal with it,” he said.