A place in the World Cup quarter-finals is at stake when Ivory Coast and Norway meet at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday in the eight-legged final.
Côte d’Ivoire is making history by reaching the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time, while Norway is enjoying a memorable return to the tournament after a 28-year absence. Emerse Faé’s team came into the championship in strong form and navigated a difficult Group E in impressive fashion.
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Ivory Coast responded in their final group game with a 2-0 win over Curaçao – thanks to two goals from Nicolas Pépé – to secure second place and a place in the knockout stages.
Norway, on the other hand, has been one of the tournament’s most entertaining teams. Ståle Solbakken’s men stormed through Group I with victories over Iraq and Senegal, before losing 4-1 to France in the last game and finishing second behind Les Bleus.
The main attraction has been Erling Haaland, who scored four goals in the group stage and once again showed why he is considered one of the most dangerous strikers in world football.
Team news for Côte d’Ivoire vs. Norway
The Ivory Coast will be hoping Wilfried Singo can be fit for the game – he had to sit out the win against Curaçao with a hamstring injury, but is still a doubt. Ousmane Diomandé and Odilon Kossounou are expected to start in central defence, while Nicolas Pépé leads the attack after scoring both goals in the last group game. Franck Kessié will be central in midfield with his leadership and experience.
Norway is monitoring Julian Ryerson’s form after the Dortmund defender had to sit out training with a thigh problem. If Ryerson is not ready, Fredrik Aursnes can go down in defence, so that Patrick Berg gets a place in midfield together with Martin Ødegaard and Sander Berge.
All eyes will once again be on Haaland, whose four goals place him among the tournament’s top scorers.
Predicted line-ups
Côte d’Ivoire (4-3-3): Fofana – Doué, Kossounou, O. Diomandé, Konan – Sangaré – Diallo, Kessié, Oulai, Y. Diomandé – Pépé
Norway (4-3-3): Nyland – Aursnes, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe – Ødegaard, Berg, Berge – Sørloth, Haaland, Nusa
How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Norway
The game will be played on Tuesday, June 30 at Dallas Stadium. In the UK, the match will be broadcast on BBC One and streamed via BBC iPlayer.
Key figures for Côte d’Ivoire vs. Norway
- Ivory Coast is in the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in history.
- They conceded only two goals in three group games.
- Ivory Coast kept a clean sheet against Ecuador and Curaçao.
- Nicolas Pépé scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Curaçao.
- Franck Kessié has been directly involved in two of Ivory Coast’s three goals.
- Ivory Coast have won five of their last six games in all competitions.
- Norway scored eight goals in three group games – an average of 2.67 per game.
- Erling Haaland scored four goals in the group stage and has 59 goals in 52 caps.
- Norway has only one clean sheet in their last ten games.
- Both teams scored in all of Norway’s group stage matches.
- Martin Ødegaard has contributed to goals in each of Norway’s victories in the tournament.
- Norway is playing its first World Cup knockout match since the quarter-finals in 1998.
Prediction for the Ivory Coast against Norway
The Ivory Coast has impressed throughout the tournament and can cause problems for Norway’s vulnerable defense. But knockout football is often determined by moments of quality – and few players in the competition have more of that than Haaland. Norway should push on.
Prediction: Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway
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