Ødegaard dares to dream as Norway face Ivory Coast

Win or go home: Ivory Coast tonight

Your team is three hours from a World Cup knockout match. Ivory Coast in the round of 32, and the winner gets Brazil or Ecuador in the last 16 (2). Ståle Solbakken has Norway in the knockout stage for the first time in 28 years, and the group-stage campaign, a 4–1 demolition of Iraq, a competitive showing against France, says this team belongs here (1)(4). The squad trained in the stadium on Monday and looked sharp (5). Kickoff tonight.

Ødegaard on a possible Brazil clash: let people dream

Martin Ødegaard is not shying away from what sits on the other side of this bracket. Asked about a potential meeting with Brazil in the round of 16, the captain was direct: "Folk må gjerne drømme", people are welcome to dream (1). No clichés about taking it one game at a time. Just recognition that the path is real.

Iraq's Sulaka on Haaland: he's a horse

Rebin Sulaka played against Erling Haaland in the group stage. His description after Norway's 4–1 win: "Han er en hest", he is a horse (4). It was meant as a compliment. Haaland's physical presence left that kind of impression on Iraq's back line, and Ivory Coast's Gervinho has already warned his teammates about discipline rather than focusing solely on the striker.