Ivory Coast must pay attention to itself, not Haaland, warns

Ivory Coast must mainly pay attention to itself, not to Haaland, warns

Ivory Coast is about to face Norway in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday. However, Gervinho, former Arsenal player and current Ivory Coast international, has an important message for his team: the biggest threat is not the dangerous striker Erling Haaland, but above all their own performances.

Ivory Coast have qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in history, finishing second in their group behind Germany. This means they now have the chance to prove themselves against Norway, where Haaland has already scored four goals in two games. Despite Haaland's global recognition, Gervinho believes the team must focus on their own game. "The pressure is not on us, which allows us to play with less pressure. We have to enjoy the game and not put too much pressure on ourselves. Continuing would be a bonus, but enjoyment comes first," said Gervinho.

He added that Ivory Coast does not need to specifically make a plan to fight Haaland. "Of course we have to be alert to his qualities, but other players in the Norway team are also dangerous. The real danger comes from within, from ourselves. We also have talented players such as Ange-Yoan Bonny, Yan Diomande, Amad Diallo and Nicolas Pepe who can also threaten the Norwegian defense."

Haaland has already impressed in the current World Cup with his clinical finishing. So far, he has taken all his shots in the match with precision, which gives him elite status. He is on the verge of making history as he still has the chance to become the first player since Sandor Kocsis in 1954 to score more than two goals in his first three World Cup appearances.

On the other hand, Diomande, who is reportedly in the interest of Paris Saint-Germain, is a player to keep an eye on. He has already achieved a remarkable feat during the World Cup group stage by creating both more than ten dribbles and more than ten chances, making him the first player to do so for a single country since Neymar in 2018.

Gervinho commented: "His development is visible, and he can play a key role in our attack. He has the potential to take the lead and help us move forward. We have always had strong players and that will continue to be the case. I hope he takes responsibility and helps our team move forward. But he is not the only one; we also have experienced players who can support him."

The match between Ivory Coast and Norway promises to be exciting, with a lot at stake for both teams. Gervinho's message is clear: if Ivory Coast can play their own game, they can pull off surprises against their opponents, regardless of Haaland's quality.

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