Ivorians out to steal Haaland’s thunder

Erling Haaland will be the centre of attention in Dallas tonight but the Ivory Coast will be hoping to highlight some attacking talent of their own when they take on Norway in their World Cup Round of 32 clash.

Norway's one-man wrecking ball has four goals in his two appearances at the tournament and is set to return after being rested in the last group game against France, as were most of the Norwegian first-choice players.

Haaland scored twice against Iraq in Norway's return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence and was at his predatory best as they beat Senegal to secure their progress after only two group games.

Ivory Coast's planning will centre on how to stop Haaland in what is sure to be a thorough examination of the West African team's defence that has conceded just one goal in the group stage.

But coach Emerse Fae will also be looking to have his side on the front foot and take the game to Norway - and keep Haaland off the ball.

The Ivorians have an exciting array of forward talent, led by teenager Yan Diomande, who is another dominating the club pre-season transfer market speculation, and former Arsenal record signing Nicolas Pepe, who scored twice in their last match against Curacao and is reviving his reputation.

**This will be the first-ever meeting between Norway and Ivory Coast.

**This will be only Norway's third knockout match at a World Cup. Stale Solbakken's side have not lost consecutive matches since September 2022, when they were beaten by Slovenia and Serbia in the Nations League.

**Norway have lost only two of their 19 matches against African opposition in all competitions (W9 D8), with both defeats coming in friendlies against Senegal (2006) and South Africa (2009).

**Erling Haaland could become the first player since Hungary's Sandor Kocsis in 1954 to score in each of his first three World Cup appearances. He already has four goals at this tournament.

**Ivory Coast are featuring in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. The Elephants have also won multiple matches at a single World Cup for the first time and scored the opening goal in all three group-stage games.

**Ivory Coast trailed for just three minutes and 29 seconds during the group stage, all of it coming after Germany's late winner in their 2-1 defeat to the Group E winners.

**Yan Diomande became only the second African player to complete 10+ dribbles (10) and create 10+ chances (10) in a single World Cup group stage, after South Africa's Quinton Fortune in 2002.