Norway World Cup squad reached the last 16 after Erling Haaland scored late to beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1. The win came after Ståle Solbakken had rested almost his entire side in the final group game against France, and it pushed Norway into a knockout round they had reached only twice before.
Haaland and Nusa deliver
Antonio Nusa gave Norway a first-half lead, and Haaland settled it with four minutes remaining. The strike was his 60th goal in his 53rd appearance for Norway.
Patrick Berg started the move for the winner. He was the only player to start both of Norway’s last two matches, and he teed up Haaland for the finish that carried Norway through.
Diallo answers for Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire forced their way back through Amad Diallo after he made a remarkable clearance to keep out a Torbjørn Heggem volley. He then scored the equaliser before Norway found the final response.
That sequence left Côte d’Ivoire out at the group stage again. They had never previously made it through the group at a World Cup, while Norway’s own knockout history remains short: two games, in 1938 and 1998, and both ended in defeats to Italy.
Brazil waits in New York
Solbakken’s rotation against France drew criticism before this match, but the result gave his selection a straight-line defense. Norway got through by sitting in, defending and surviving when the game tightened, not by running away from it.
Brazil now waits in the last 16 at New York New Jersey Stadium. For Norway, the immediate task is simpler than the backdrop: carry the same discipline into a knockout match that ends far quicker than group-stage football does.
