Like most nations, Norway’s World Cup record is far less impressive when compared to Brazil’s but the Scandinavians have a chance to make history when they face the Seleção in the Round of 16 in East Rutherford later today.

Brazil are the most successful team in World Cup history having amassed five titles and a total of 79 victories - more than Germany (70) and Argentina (51).

The South Americans are also the only team to have participated in all 23 editions of the tournament - unlike this afternoon’s opponents Norway, who are making their fourth appearance.

Norway eyeing a place in the quarter finals

For Norway, this is the furthest they have ever managed to get at the World Cup - they were eliminated at the Last 16 stage in 1938 and 1998, and were desperately unlucky to miss out on the knockout stage in 1994, bowing out by just one goal in a group that finished with everyone level on points.

In the current edition, Norway have good reason to believe they can make it to the quarter finals for the first time in history. Their only defeat was to France in the group stage and when it comes to scoring goals, the team has been performing well - they sit fifth in the ranking with 10 goals - one more than Brazil.

Norway is the only team who Brazil have never beaten

And there is another statistic that will give Haaland, Ødegaard and Co. hope against Ancelotti’s side later today - Norway have never lost a game against Brazil - including their one and only previous encounter at the World Cup. To this day, Norway is the only team in the world never to have lost a match to Brazil.

Ahead of today’s game, Norway and Brazil have met just four times - once in official competition.

Held in Oslo

The other three meetings were all friendlies. The first was at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo in July 1998. Jan Age Fjørtoft opened the scoring just minutes into the second half, beating Claudio Taffarel to chalk his first goal for the national team at senior level. Edmar pulled Brazil back level late on as the first meeting ended 1-1.

A decade passed before Norway and Brazil crossed paths again. On May 30, 1997, they were back at the Ullevaal for another friendly. Egil Olsen’s team pulled off a memorable win, beating a Brazil side packed with stars including Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Romário, Djalminha and Ronaldo...

Petter Rudi and Tore André Flo put the hosts 2-0 within the first 20 minutes. Djalma pulled one back but Flo restored the two-goal lead soon after. Romário made it 3-2 on the hour but Egil Østenstad had the last say, making it 4-2 with a quarter of an hour to go.

Norway and Brazil’s only meeting in official competition was at the 1998 World Cup. Both landed in Group A and faced off in the last group game in Marseille, with Norway needing a win, or Morocco to lose, to advance. The game seemed destined for a draw until Bebeto popped up at the back post to send a diving header past Frode Grodas on 78 minutes. In a dramatic last 10 minutes, Tore André Flo equalised then Kjetil Rekdal blasted in a late penalty to make it 1-2 - a victory which sent them to the next round

The most recent meeting was in August 2006 in Oslo. Once again Brazil found themselves behind on the scoreboard. Morten Gamst Pedersen fired Norway ahead early into the second half and Carvalho made it 1-1 10 minutes later. That’s how it stayed - along with Norway’s unbeaten record against the five-time world champions. We’ll see if Solbakken’s Vikings can extend their incredible run, and book a place in the quarter finals, in a few hours’ time...

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