GROUP A: Brazil v Norway

For a mild-mannered schoolteacher Egil Olsen certainly has a way of shooting his mouth off and making things difficult for himself. Last week, before the game with Scotland, he announced that Craig Brown's team was the weakest in Group A. It served no purpose other than to provide his opponents with a little extra motivation for the game.

Now, ahead of this crucial meeting with Brazil, Olsen has made it clear that he reckons he could do better than Mario Zagallo if he were in charge of the defending world champions at this tournament.

Zagallo's response has been scathing, dismissing his opposite number scornfully and announcing that he had already booked each of his players in with a masseur for after the game because "with all of the high balls they send up we will all certainly have neck strain".

This isn't exactly the sort of attitude Olsen might have been expected to promote ahead of a game that is unimportant for the champions - already qualified for the second stage as group winners - but which now has an element of grudge about it. They have a further incentive in that Norway beat Brazil 4-2 in Oslo during May of last year.

That grudge aspect to the game may play some part in Zagallo's team selection, although it would appear to matter little what he does. Nobody disputes that the Brazilians are much better than their opponents this evening and so Olsen and company must simply hope that they play well, Brazil don't, and somebody from his side manages to find the net.

Cesar Sampaio is out for the game, having picked up a second yellow card against the Moroccans, and there is a strong feeling in the camp that Denilson will come into the starting line-up, with Leonardo taking up a more defensive role in front of the defence. Olsen, meanwhile, has recalled Liverpool's Oyvind Leonhardsen to the right side of his midfield, but otherwise sticks with the personnel and tactics that have produced two draws with the group's lesser lights so far.

PROBABLE TEAMS

BRAZIL: Taffarel, Cafu, Aldair, Junior Baiano, Roberto Carlos, Leonardo, Dunga, Rivaldo, Denilson, Ronaldo, Bebeto.

NORWAY (confirmed): Grodas, Berg, Eggen, Johnsen, Bjornbye, H Flo, Leonhardsen, Rekdal, Strand, Riseth, TA Flo.