Lucas Paquetá World Cup Injury Doubt Clouds Brazil Ahead Of Norway Last-16 Clash

Lucas Paqueta is a major doubt for the rest of the World Cup after a hamstring injury, dealing Brazil a significant midfield setback ahead of a last-16 tie against Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

The Brazil midfielder left the pitch at half-time in the 2-1 win over Japan, and Brazil’s Football Confederation has already ruled Paqueta out of the Norway game while medical staff work against the clock to keep the World Cup campaign on track.

According to a statement from Brazil’s Football Confederation, imaging tests showed a muscle injury at the back of Paqueta’s left thigh, and the playmaker is now following an intensive treatment schedule under the national team’s medical staff in an effort to return quickly.

Paqueta started against Japan on Monday but was withdrawn at the interval after feeling discomfort, with Endrick introduced for the second half, and the reshuffled side eventually secured progress thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner that settled the World Cup knockout meeting.

Brazil face Norway in the last 16 having advanced from nine of their previous 10 World Cup last-16 ties, with the only failure at that stage coming in 1990, when Argentina earned a 1-0 victory to eliminate the South American side early.

Recent history against European opposition is less positive for Brazil, as the five-time champions have been knocked out or beaten in all six World Cup knockout matches against European teams since lifting the trophy by defeating Germany in the 2002 final.

This year’s Brazil vs Norway World Cup clash will be the fifth meeting between the nations in all competitions and the second at a World Cup, with Norway unbeaten so far in the fixture after two wins and two draws, including a 2-1 World Cup success in 1998.

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The current selection issues for Brazil extend beyond Lucas Paqueta’s injury, with winger Raphinha already sidelined earlier in the tournament by a hamstring problem and Neymar limited so far to a short appearance from the bench as Carlo Ancelotti manages fitness concerns.

The win over Japan that set up the Brazil vs Norway World Cup encounter was decided in dramatic fashion, when Martinelli struck in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 result in New York, keeping Brazil on course despite the growing list of physical problems.

With Lucas Paqueta already ruled out of the last-16 tie and Brazil’s attack affected by injuries to Raphinha and limited minutes for Neymar, Ancelotti’s team approach the Brazil vs Norway World Cup match with strong historical pedigree but clear physical doubts across key areas.