Gervinho insisted that the most important menace that Ivory Coast should guard towards Norway just isn’t Erling Haaland, however Ivory Coast itself.
Ivory Coast completed second of their group behind Germany and certified for the World Cup finals for the primary time.
Their reward is a draw with Norway within the final 32. The Ivorian’s protection means he should face Haaland, top-of-the-line forwards on the earth, who has already scored 4 objectives in two video games.
However former Arsenal attacker and Ivory Coast worldwide Gervinho feels the Ivorians have to fret about themselves and never Norway’s fearsome striker.
Gervinho informed Stats Carry out: “I believe the extent of competitors has elevated. It is a knockout sport. Our benefit is that we do not go into this sport as favorites, so the youthful brothers ought to be capable of play extra relaxed. It isn’t precisely relaxed, however they need to be capable of play with much less stress.”
“What I am saying is they need to take pleasure in it as a result of they’re already doing job at this stage.
“After all it might be a bonus if we may get via and I hope they do nicely on this match. However they should have enjoyable and never put an excessive amount of stress on themselves. I believe the stress can be on Norway.”
Requested if Ivory Coast ought to have concrete plans to focus on Haaland, Gervinho mentioned: “I’d say no, I do not assume so.”
“They should watch out with him as a result of he is very expert, he strikes nicely, he is scientific. However aside from Haaland, I believe there are fairly quite a lot of high quality gamers who’re underrated however very harmful.”
“However Ivory Coast’s actual opponent can be Ivory Coast itself.
“I believe we now have good gamers up entrance too. We’ve got expertise too. We’ve got Ange-Yohan Bony, Yann Diomande, Amad Diallo and Nicolas Pepe.
“There are additionally numerous gamers who will bother Norway’s protection. So if we’re environment friendly, if we create possibilities and play our soccer, I believe it is not simply Haaland we now have to fret about. Norway may also be apprehensive about our stage.”
As you recognize, Erling Haaland would not want many touches. That is what makes him elite.
The Norwegian striker’s 10 pictures on the 2026 World Cup have been all first-time hits, the best proportion of any participant who tried no less than six pictures within the match. pic.twitter.com/Wb5c1iatsu
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 26, 2026
Haaland didn’t come on instead in Norway’s 4-1 loss to France, which means he nonetheless has an opportunity to develop into the primary participant to attain no less than two objectives in every of his first three World Cup appearances since Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis in 1954.
Nonetheless, on the flip facet, Diomande is more likely to pose a significant menace to Norway’s protection.
The winger, who’s reported to be concerned with becoming a member of Paris Saint-Germain, turned the second African participant on file (since 1966) to realize 10 or extra profitable dribbles (10) and 10 or extra possibilities created (10) within the group phases of a World Cup. In actual fact, he’s the primary participant from the group to characterize a rustic alone since Brazil’s Neymar in 2018.
“Should you have a look at the place he began and the completely different golf equipment he is been via, you’ll be able to see he is progressing, which is nice,” Gervinho mentioned.
“In the intervening time, I believe he is a participant who can deliver one thing particular and who can lead the Ivorian assault. I am not shocked that we have had a younger participant emerge to guide that assault, as a result of we have at all times had the participant. We all know we’ll at all times have the participant.”
“I am blissful that Jan is with us. I hope he can take cost of this assault like a frontrunner and contribute to the progress of this crew. However it’s not simply Jan. He’s a younger participant who continues to be growing, however he can depend on the expertise of Nicolas Pepe and different gamers.”
