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I find it difficult to split these two sides, but I do think this will be an entertaining Round of 32 tie between two nations who will have plenty of momentum following their positive group stage performances. 

Norway have seen BTTS in all three of their matches so far and look a little light at the back. I think they’ll be exposed at times by the speed of this Ivory Coast side in transition, but you can’t rule out Norway getting on the scoresheet, given that they have Erling Haaland within their ranks, who has scored four goals across his two starts so far.

Ivory Coast managed to score against Germany in an unlucky 2-1 defeat to Naglesmann’s side, and I think they can cause another European side problems here in what should be an end-to-end game.

I think this will be quite an open game between two sides who could easily go on a bit of a run at this World Cup, following on from their promising displays in the group stages of the competition.

Norway are yet to keep a clean sheet so far, having conceded against France, Iraq, and Senegal in battling to second place in their group. Nyland has been forced into making two saves across his two starts, with both of these stops coming against Senegal as Norway came away 3-2 winners over the African side.

Nyland was forced into making 17 saves during qualifying for Norway (2.12 per 90) with a save percentage of 77.3%. I think he gets called into action at least twice here, with Norway’s backline being the weakest part of their side and the Ivory Coast offering a decent attacking threat.

Erling Haaland was rested for Norway’s final group game against France, but should come back into the starting lineup here as one of the best finishers at the tournament so far.

Haaland has scored four goals across his two matches from 10 shots (5.00 per 90), seeing seven of these efforts find the target (3.50 per 90). This Norway side is built to feed him chances, and two shots on target for Norway’s top scorer during qualifying looks achievable in this clash.

Haaland scored 16 goals across eight starts in qualifying for Norway from 41 shots (5.23 per 90), seeing 28 of these efforts find the target (3.57 per 90). He’s also got a ridiculous record in international football more widely having netted 59 goals across 52 caps.

David Moller Wolfe was also rested for Norway against France last time out but should come back into the fold here to line up at left-back, where he’ll be faced up by Amad Diallo.

Moller Wolfe has committed 2+ fouls in both of his World Cup matches so far, committing three fouls in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq. He had a pretty unremarkable domestic campaign during the 25/26 season for Wolves, but did commit fouls pretty consistently with 10 across his 11 starts in the Premier League (0.86 per 90).

He also averaged 1.45 fouls committed per 90 during qualifying, so he is very consistent when it comes to committing fouls, and his main opponent here in Amad Diallo has won two fouls across 154 minutes of action at the World Cup so far and averaged 1.46 fouls won per 90 during the 25/26 campaign for Manchester United.

Frank Kessie has started all three games for the Ivory Coast at the World Cup as captain and has been aggressive across these games, with five fouls committed so far.

Kessie was shown a yellow card in his opening game of the tournament as he committed three fouls against Ecuador, and he should have plenty of work to get through here against an organised and complete Norwegian midfield. 

Kessie plays his club football in Saudi Arabia for Al Ahli and committed 34 fouls across 26 starts during the 25/26 campaign (1.41 per 90). I expect him to commit at least one foul here, as he has done in each of his three matches at the World Cup so far.

Martin Odegaard is such an important player for Norway and has a particularly strong relationship with Erling Haaland, which makes him a good option to register an assist in this clash, having already set up two goals at the tournament.

Odegaard was also afforded a rest against France last time out, so he should enter this game refreshed. He’s set up a goal in each of his two games so far, from two chances created, showing the benefit of having a player as clinical as Haaland one the end of the chances he sets up for the striker.

Odegaard set up seven goals during qualifying across five starts from 25 chances created (5.01 per 90). Norway’s set up involves Odegaard and Haaland linking up as often as possible - and Odegaard’s role on set pieces for Norway also aids this selection.

As I've mentioned already, I think the Ivory Coast will cause Norway problems in transition. They have a lot of speed at the top end of the pitch, and their wide players in particular can be really threatening, with the duo expected to be Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo.

Of those two wide players, I think Diallo is a slightly bigger shot threat. Diomande is incredibly talented and will get a big move over the next few weeks, but he’s been featuring in more of a creative role for the Ivory Coast so far and is yet to get on the scoresheet. 

On the other hand, Diallo has already scored at the World Cup with a crucial winning goal against Ecuador to ensure that the Ivory Coast finished second in the group. He’s taken six shots across his two starts (3.51 per 90), finding the target twice with these efforts (1.17 per 90).

There was a moment in Canada v South Africa a few days ago where Sphephelo Sithole charged into a Canada player in the first half and quite literally shoulder barged him to the ground. He wasn’t given a yellow card on that occasion, which is a scenario that sums up card betting at the World Cup so far.

The referees have been extremely lenient when reaching for their pockets, even those referees who are usually quite card-happy, but I see this changing in the knockout stages, as the constant threat of elimination usually leads to more card-heavy games.

Ibrahim Sangare is a prime candidate for caution here, having collected five yellow cards across 25 starts for Nottingham Forest during the 25/26 campaign.

He hasn’t got that stuck in at the World Cup yet, but he is quite an industrious player and should get caught up in a competitive midfield battle here with not much at all to split these two sides.

Haaland has taken 10 shots across his two starts at the World Cup (5.00 per 90), seeing seven of these efforts find the target (3.50 per 90). He scored 16 goals across eight starts during qualifying, averaging 3.57 shots on target per 90.

Odegaard has been fouled in both of his starts for Norway at the World Cup so far. He was fouled 11 times across five starts for Norway during qualifying (2.20 per 90), which is a significant increase on his record for Arsenal across the 25/26 Premier League season (0.59 per 90).

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Erling Haaland has been brilliant in his first ever World Cup campaign so far, netting two goals in each of his two starts.

He was rested for Norway's final group game against France so should come into this clash really refreshed. He's got a ridiculous record at international level with 59 goals across 52 caps and scored more goals than any other European player during qualifying (16).

He could turn provider too, Haaland set up two goals during qualifying with an average of 0.89 chances created per 90. This is a part of his game that has improved over the last year with his 10 assists for Manchester City last year being the best tally he's registered since joining the club.

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Norway have taken the lead in two of their three World Cup games so far, striking first against Senegal and Iraq. They failed to lead against France, but did make 10 changes for that game with this clash in mind.

Ivory Coast conceded first in their 2-1 defeat to Germany in the group stage which is the most comparable assignment to the test they face here. Norway won all eight of their qualifying matches, being one of only two sides to do so from Europe.

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I am also siding with the aforementioned Moisés Caicedo to attempt a minimum of one shot.

The Ecuador midfielder regularly pushes forward to support attacking moves, as shown across his three group stage outings, where he registered one shot in each game.

He was also reliable when it came to pulling the trigger during World Cup qualification, averaging 0.84 shots per 90 while attempting at least one shot in four of the five friendly fixtures that followed.

It is also worth noting that Caicedo registered seven shots across his final eight Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season.

While Mexico progressed to the knockout stage with three wins from three, they were outshot by both South Korea and the Czech Republic, which further strengthens the case for Caicedo to get an effort away.

Back Moises Caicedo to commit at least two fouls against Mexico. The Ecuadorian midfield enforcer committed four fouls across his three group stage appearances, including three against the Ivory Coast. 

That is nothing new. Caicedo averaged 2.06 fouls per game during World Cup qualifying and carried that trend into Ecuador's pre-tournament friendlies, committing at least two fouls in four of those five warm-up matches.

Caicedo is likely to be at the heart of a fiercely contested midfield battle against Brian Gutierrez and Erik Lira, who drew a combined four fouls across their two group stage appearances. The Mexican duo are likely to come in for plenty of close attention from Caicedo.

A minimum of three corners should be well within range for Ecuador when they go up against Mexico on Wednesday.

The South Americans forced at least three corners in each of their three group stage matches. A closer look at those figures shows La Tri earned five against the Ivory Coast, eight against Curacao, and won the corner count 3-2 against Germany in their final group stage fixture.

Ecuador averaged 3.95 corners per 90 during qualification, so here we are effectively looking for just one fewer than that. 

What’s more, Mexico lost the corner battle in two of their three group stage games, including conceding five against the Czech Republic last time out. The co-hosts were also forced to defend 3+ corners in friendlies against both Ghana and Australia in the weeks leading up to the World Cup.

Ecuador look worthy of support to collect at least two yellow cards against Mexico.

Sebastian Beccacece’s side will be really up against it here, given they are playing Mexico in their own backyard. Moreover, Ecuador come into this encounter having picked up three yellow cards to Germany’s one in their final Group E assignment.

While Ecuador received an average of 1.34 yellow cards per game during World Cup qualification, they had players sent off in two of their final three fixtures, against Peru and Argentina. 

Adding further weight to the case is the fact Mexico drew multiple bookings from two of their three group stage opponents. Notably, South Africa received two red cards at this venue during the World Cup curtain-raiser.

Look for Piero Hincapie to be fouled at least once against Mexico. 

The Ecuadorian defender featured in all three of Ecuador’s group stage matches and was drawing an average of 1.08 fouls per game.

Moreover, Hincapie was being fouled consistently ahead of the World Cup, being brought down twice in four friendly outings, while he also won free kicks in all four of his Copa America appearances a couple of years ago. 

On top of that, he was fouled a combined eight times across his final 10 Premier League appearances for Arsenal last season.

Hincapie is likely to find himself in similar areas of the pitch to Mexico duo Roberto Alvarado and Jorge Sanchez, with the former committing two fouls against South Africa, while the latter was penalised against South Korea and the Czech Republic.

Michael Olise has registered the joint-most assists at the World Cup so far, setting up three goals from seven chances created (2.83 per 90).

It’s clear that Deschamps wants Olise in more of a creative role. Dembele and Mbappe are the two main finishers in the side, with Olise operating in a more central role compared to the wider role he plays for Bayern Munich, where he’s much more of a shot threat cutting in on his left foot.

Olise created 22 chances across just five starts for France during qualifying (4.64 per 90) and was very unlucky not to register an assist. He registered 28 assists for Bayern Munich across the 25/26 campaign, his highest ever tally in a single season as a professional footballer.

Alexander Isak had a really tough season, mainly due to injuries, but now looks to be building back towards the player we saw for large spells of his time at Newcastle.

He’s scored one goal at the World Cup so far from six shots (2.01 per 90), being pretty clinical with these efforts as five have found the target (1.67 per 90). He managed 11 shots across just 226 minutes of action during qualifying (4.38 per 90), seeing five of these efforts find the target (1.99 per 90). 

I think Sweden will get chances in transition here. Only four sides have had more shots on target than Graham Potter’s side at the World Cup so far, and that tally is mainly down to the effectiveness of Gyokeres and Isak as Sweden’s front pairing.

Yasin Ayari is a really talented player, and I think he will eventually earn a move to a top side as another product of the never-ending conveyor belt of talent that comes through at Brighton.

He can be a bit overly aggressive with his challenges and has already collected a card at the World Cup, with that caution coming against Japan. He collected one card across his seven starts in qualifying, and also averaged 2.15 fouls committed per 90 across those matches.

He’ll be up against Olise here, who is now operating more centrally for France. Olise has won five fouls across his three starts at the World Cup (2.02 per 90), and this is a consistent part of his game, having won 11 fouls across five starts in qualifying (2.32 per 90).

I took this angle when France lined up against Senegal in their opening game of the World Cup, and it landed on that occasion with Upamecano being up against Nicolas Jackson.

I think Upamecano has another favourable opponent for him to win a foul here, with the centre back likely to be in a real tussle with Viktor Gyokeres, who has committed four fouls across his three starts at the World Cup so far, and is as short as 1.33 to commit a foul in this contest.

Upamecano does have a mistake in him; on the whole, he’s a solid centre back, but Gyokeres and Isak will be aware that he can flounder under pressure, and they may overstep the mark at times when trying to force a mistake from the Bayern Munich centre back.

France have enough quality to win this tie, and I think they’ll do so comfortably with the attacking options they have on the pitch against a Swedish backline that I really don’t trust.

We saw France take apart a second string Norway side last time out, scoring three goals in the first half in an eventual 4-1 victory for Didier Deschamps’ side. They looked really confident in the final third with Mbappe and Dembele linking up particularly well, which is a balance many questioned before the tournament started.

France won all three of their group matches and look like the most complete side at the World Cup so far. They’ve scored 3+ goals in all of these matches, and I don’t think Sweden will be able to live with that level of firepower.

Sweden have been pretty good when it comes to getting shots and shots on target away, but like with all of Graham Potter’s sides, they struggle to convert these chances.

This has been an issue for Graham Potter since his time at Swansea. He often constructs teams that are really good between the boxes, but lack the cutting edge to put away chances or keep sides out of their own goal.

Mike Maignan is a very solid keeper and has had to make five saves at the World Cup so far (1.67 per 90), with a save percentage of 71.4%. Sweden have averaged 6.70 shots on target per game so far; only four sides have found the target more often than Graham Potter’s side.

Kylian Mbappe comes alive at the World Cup, and this tournament has been no different, with the striker scoring four goals and registering two assists across just three starts.

He’ll have his eye on another Golden Boot after clinching the accolade back in 2022 as France battled to the final in Qatar. He’s taken 16 shots at the World Cup so far (5.41 per 90), seeing nine of these efforts find the target (3.05 per 90).

France look really balanced in forward areas at the moment, with the front four of Olise, Doue, Dembele, and Mbappe complementing each other really well. Mbappe should be full of confidence again here and will get chances against a Sweden backline that is far from secure and has conceded in all three of their games so far.

Sweden may be vulnerable at the back, but they have the individual quality to pose a threat in forward areas - namely through Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, who can both be dangerous even with limited service.

Gyokeres has taken 11 shots across his three starts at the World Cup so far (3.67 per 90), finding the back of the net once with these efforts. He’s seen five of these attempts find the target (1.67 per 90). He scored four goals across six starts for Sweden during qualifying, maintaining an average of exactly 1.00 shots on target per 90.

Gyokeres is the type of striker who will relish an individual battle with Upamecano and his centre-back partner, and actually tends to be at his best when he’s playing for a side that will feed him down the channels when Sweden can get the ball forward in transition.

Upamecano has been pretty solid for France at the back so far, but I still think he has a mistake in him and will have to be alert to the threat of Sweden’s front two, as well as Anthony Elanga, who can be a real asset to Graham Potter’s side in transition.

Upamecano has committed three fouls across his three starts at the World Cup so far, committing one in each game. His main battle here will be with Viktor Gyokeres, who has been fouled three times across his three matches so far, and maintained an average of 1.33 fouls won per 90 for Sweden during qualifying. 

Upamecano wasn’t really tested during qualifying, with France having a relatively kind qualifying group, but did average 0.75 fouls committed per 90 across his 21 starts for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga during the 25/26 campaign

Erling Haaland has been brilliant in his first ever World Cup campaign so far, netting two goals in each of his two starts.

He was rested for Norway's final group game against France so should come into this clash really refreshed. He's got a ridiculous record at international level with 59 goals across 52 caps and scored more goals than any other European player during qualifying (16).

He could turn provider too, Haaland set up two goals during qualifying with an average of 0.89 chances created per 90. This is a part of his game that has improved over the last year with his 10 assists for Manchester City last year being the best tally he's registered since joining the club.

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