See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER Updated: 17:24 BST, 30 June 2026
Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage of the latest updates as the Ivory Coast take on Norway in the last 32 of the World Cup in Dallas. More vikings...Yep, I know.This was meant to be a post about the Ivory Coast support, but all I could find were more pictures of Norway fans in Viking hats.I mean, you have to respect it, there are just so many of them here in Dallas. It's just incredible.I haven't seen any Erling Haaland imposters yet, though.Diomande the Creator Yep, I'm going to eulogise about Yan Diomande a little more.Did you know that a winger became only the second African player to complete 10 or more dribbles and create 10 or more chances in a single World Cup group stage?He is also the first player to do so across his opening three appearances at the finals since Roberto Donadoni and Dragan Stojković in 1990.The man was on fire, and I can't lie, I fear for the Norway backline a bit tonight. He could have them on strings.The only thing Diomande needs to do more of is score goals.Diomande the diamond There is one player, abover all, that I simply can't wait to watch in action today.That player is Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande.Diomande has been the talk of the town this tournament, with both PSG and Liverpool chasing the RB Leipzig winger's signature ahead of the next club campaign.And it's easy to see why he is in such high demand. The man has been electric this tournament, and on the two occasions I have watched him play, he has been spell-binding.In the opening game, he ripped Piero Hincapie a new one, which the majority of wingers around the world have not been able to do this past year. Then against Germany, he has Joshua Kimmich on toast.It now appears Diomande is heading to PSG, despite Liverpool fighting tooth and nail to get him, and if I were Bradley Barcola or Desire Doue, I would be afraid for my spot.This man can play, and I can't wait to see him light up Dallas today.'Ivory Coast carry a threat'Chris Sutton, former England striker, on BBC Sport:I am at this game, and it is a very tough one to call - although there will definitely be a few goals in it.Erling Haaland is chasing the Golden Boot and was one of the players Norway rested against France when they were already through from a tricky group.He will be hard to stop. But Ivory Coast carry a threat too, whoever they pick up front. It could turn out to be a thriller and it might take penalties to decide it.'You can't compare Haaland to Kane'Emmanuel Petit, 1998 World Cup winner with France, speaking to Jackpot City Casino:Erling Haaland is a great striker, but you cannot compare him to Harry Kane, especially on a technical level. I am very curious about the season coming with Manchester City since Pep Guardiola left the club. I am wondering how they are going to play under Enzo Maresca. Haaland relies on his teammates most of the time. When he gets older, like Cristiano Ronaldo, he will need even more support from his team-mates. Kane doesn’t play like that.Ivory Coast Team News - Diomande STARTSThe man everybody wants to see starts.Yep, Yan Diomande, who has reportedly told RB Leipzig he wants to sign for PSG and not Liverpool, is starting on the wings again.As is Nicolas Pepe, who scored a brace against Curaçao in their last group stage win.Norway Team News - 10 changesThe big boys are back.Norway have made 10 changes to the side that were swept aside by France in their final group stage match.Patrick Berg is the only player to keep his place, while the likes of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard return.A very strong team.Viking-mania Just imagine if you were a viking hat seller in Dallas, you'd be making absolute bank today.There are Viking hats everywhere you look outside the AT&T Stadium, and I mean EVERYWHERE. It's a very Norwegian-heavy crowd in Texas, it seems.It's making me want to go and get mine (don't ask).Vikings arrive for battleI can already hear the battle cries from the Viking army as they arrive in Dallas.In just a few hours' time, we may be hearing them from the stands...Anyway, away from the fantasifull stuff, the Norway side have arrived ahead of their biggest game in nearly three decades.Erling Haaland is leading the charge, and he looks like he means business. Man is locked in.Solbakken: 'We need to step it up'Stale Solbakken, Norway boss, speaking ahead of the match:We probably need to step up a bit even though the Senegal match apart from the last 10-15 minutes, for us, was a perfect game. We’re well-prepared, we’ve done what we’re supposed to do, the guys are happy. We played games until late last night, everybody’s in a good mood, physically and mentally. We have no excuses.Norway seek historyThis is a huge day in the history of Norwegian football. Perhaps their biggest, to be honest.This is the first time in 28 years they have made the knockout stages, and only the third time in their history.However, Norway have failed to win both of their previous knockout games in the World Cup, losing in both 1938 and 1998.Will it be third time lucky?This is the greatest Norwegian football side the country has ever had, no debate. They arguably have the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland, one of the best attacking midfielders in this tournament in Martin Odegaard, and a whole host of other talents.If any Norwegian side is finally going to break the knockout stages hoodoo, it's this one. Until they dropped all of their players against France, they were on fire.I have them as the favourites today.What's in store?Another day in paradise, they just keep getting better and better.Yesterday we had the shock exit of the Netherlands and Germany. I'm still stunned by Paraguay dumping the Germans out, to be honest. That is one of the biggest upsets I have ever seen at the World Cup, and no, I'm not being dramatic. A huge, huge shock.I would say we won't get any more dramatic days than that one, but who am I kidding? That's just not true.We have another big day ahead of us, and here is the schedule:Ivory Coast vs Norway (18:00 BST, 13:00 ET)France vs Sweden (22:00 BST, 17:00 ET) Mexico vs Ecuador (02:00 BST, 21:00 ET)Key Updates
