Erling Haaland is fresh, fully rested, and chasing a Golden Boot. That's a terrifying reality for the Ivory Coast ahead of this high-stakes World Cup Round of 32 clash at Dallas Stadium.
Norway boss Stale Solbakken made the ultimate gamble in their final group game against France. He swapped out ten players. He completely benched Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard. Sure, they lost 4-1, but the master plan was always about today. Norway didn't care about winning the group; they cared about keeping their multi-million-pound assets fresh for the knockouts. Now, the West Africans have to deal with a well-rested machine.
This is history in the making. Ivory Coast has reached the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time ever. Norway is back after a grueling 28-year absence. They've never played each other before. Not even in a friendly. It's pure, unpredictable drama in Texas.
How to Watch Ivory Coast vs Norway Live
Don't miss kickoff. The match starts at noon local time in Dallas. Here is exactly where you can watch the game live.
- United States: FOX, FOX One, Peacock, Telemundo (1:00 PM EDT)
- United Kingdom: BBC One, BBC iPlayer (6:00 PM BST)
- Norway: TV2, NRK 1, NRK 2 (7:00 PM CEST)
- Ivory Coast: New World Sport 1, 2, 3 (5:00 PM GMT)
- India: Unite8 Sports 1, ZEE5 app (10:30 PM IST)
The Tactical War Between Haaland and Diomande
Opta's supercomputer likes Norway here. It gives them a 56.1 percent chance of winning in normal time. The Ivorians sit down at 21.6 percent, with a 22.3 percent chance of extra time. But stats don't tell the full story.
Norway has been lethal, banging in eight goals in three games. Haaland already has four tournament goals from just two appearances. When Odegaard is pulling the strings behind him, they look unstoppable.
But don't write off Emerse Fae's team. The Ivorians are resilient. They shut down Ecuador 1-0, pushed Germany to the absolute limit before a painful 2-1 stoppage-time loss, and handled Curacao 2-0.
The battle of the match belongs to the namesakes. Highly rated Ivorian centre-back Ousmane Diomande has to stop Haaland inside the box. If he leaves a single inch of space, the Manchester City striker will punish him. On the flip side, the Elephants have their own teenage prodigy on the wing. 19-year-old Yan Diomande has been a creative nightmare for opposing fullbacks, and rumor has it that Paris Saint-Germain is already circling for his signature.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Fae has a relatively healthy squad, though right-back Wilfried Singo faces a late fitness test. Expect Nicolas Pepe to keep his spot up top after his brilliant two-goal performance against Curacao.
Norway welcomes back their big guns. Orjan Nyland returns in goal, while the rested duo of Odegaard and Haaland will slide straight back into the spine of the team.
Ivory Coast Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, O. Diomande, Konan; Sangare; Diallo, Kessie, Oulai, Y. Diomande; Pepe.
Norway Predicted XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.
What Happens Next
The stakes couldn't be higher. There are no second chances or group stage math to save anyone now. The winner of this tie moves on to face South American powerhouse Brazil in the Round of 16. The loser packs their bags and heads to the airport.
If you are planning to watch, fire up your stream or turn on your TV at least 30 minutes before kickoff to catch the lineups. Expect goals. Norway hasn't kept a clean sheet all tournament, and the Ivory Coast has scored in every single game they've played. Bet on both teams finding the back of the net, but expect Haaland's extra rest to eventually edge it for the Scandinavians in a tight 2-1 thriller.
