Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, half-time cigarettes in Oslo

On 9 June 2018, there was a 'revenge match' between former players from the Brazil and Norway national teams - many of whom had faced each other a couple of decades earlier during the group stage at the 1998 World Cup in France. Ronaldo Nazário was involved but this time, not out on the pitch but as coach of the Canarinha, while Roberto Carlos played at left-back, as he had done in Marseille in 1998. At half-time, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos were pictured chilling out inside the Brazil dressing room, both of them cheerily puffing away on cigarettes. It was a photograph which caused a great deasl of reaction at the time and also criticism from some quarters, but years later, it has become almost iconic.

The Norwegian Football Federation organised a rematch 20 years after the meeting In France. As coach, Ronaldo was able to convince most of his old team mates to take part. "Football is incredible and it has given us this chance to face each other again 20 year later," O Fenomeno commented. The game was held in Oslo and featured a Brazil side packed full of stars - apart from Roberto Carlos, others included Dida, Aldair, Gonçalves, Júnior Baiano, Emerson, Zé Roberto, Rivaldo, Giovanni, Bebeto and Edmundo. Norway also fielded a side featured many of those who took part in their famous World Cup win, led by Tore Andre Flo and featuring Frode Grodas and Kjetil Rekdal among others.

Brazil got their revenge, winning 0-3 on the day - their first ever victory over Norway. In the four previous meetings, three friendlies and the group stage game at France 98, Norway had won two and two had ended level.

A miracle in Marseille

It had been a very different story when the two nations met Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on 23 June 1998 in front of 57,000 spectators. It was the final game in Group A. Brazil started out mathematically top of the group while Norway needed a victory against the mighty Canarinha to make it into the next round.

It turned out to be an epic night in Marseille. The deadlock was finally broken on 78 minutes when Bebeto nodded Brazil ahead at the back post, leaving Norway needing a miracle with just over 10 minutes to go. Tore Andre Flo pulled one back on 83 minutes to give the Norwegians hope. With three minutes left, Junior Baiano brought Flo down inside the box and a penalty was given, which Rekdal gleefully smashed home to give Norway the win they needed and both advanced to the Last 16.