We had the choice. Go for a win against France in the last group game and face Sweden in the round of 16, or field the “B-team”, take the loss against Dembélé, Mbappé, Olise and the gang – and face the Ivory Coast. Ståle Solbakken chose the latter. Now we are here.
On Tuesday, at 7 p.m. Norwegian time (!) it will be a blast. Then Haaland, Ødegaard and the other Norwegian players in the starting eleven will surely not rest.
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Where Norway “rowed” past Iraq and Senegal with victories, the Ivory Coast beat both Ecuador and Curacao. Against Germany, the Ivorian players narrowly conceded with a 1-2 loss, losing first place in the group only separated by weaker head-to-head clashes against Germany.
Several of the Ivorian players made their mark during the group stage, it is a solid team that faces Norway in Texas. Antonio Nusa has first-hand information about the player the Norwegian defense must watch out for. Nusa plays with Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig, the 19-year-old has continued to show in the World Cup why he is one of football’s most sought-after attacking players.
Two other players we know well here at home are Amad Diallo, Manchester United’s star winger, and striker Ange-Yoan Bonny from Inter Milan.
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Just get ready in the thousands of homes, on escalators in Texas and in the stands at Dallas Stadium. Tranquility…. Calm!
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