Ivory Coast vs Norway - World Cup last 32 LIVE: Latest updates
Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage of the latest updates as the Ivory Coast take on Norway in the last 32 of the World Cup in Dallas.
15:57
Viking-mania
Just imagine if you were a viking hat seller in Dallas, you'd be making absolute bank today.
There are Viking hats everywhere you look outside the AT&T Stadium, and I mean EVERYWHERE. It's a very Norwegian-heavy crowd in Texas, it seems.
It's making me want to go and get mine (don't ask).
15:52Vikings arrive for battle
I can already hear the battle cries from the Viking army as they arrive in Dallas.
In just a few hours' time, we may be hearing them from the stands...
Anyway, away from the fantasifull stuff, the Norway side have arrived ahead of their biggest game in nearly three decades.
Erling Haaland is leading the charge, and he looks like he means business. Man is locked in.
15:49Solbakken: 'We need to step it up'
Stale Solbakken, Norway boss, speaking ahead of the match:
We probably need to step up a bit even though the Senegal match apart from the last 10-15 minutes, for us, was a perfect game.
We’re well-prepared, we’ve done what we’re supposed to do, the guys are happy. We played games until late last night, everybody’s in a good mood, physically and mentally. We have no excuses.
15:45Norway seek history
This is a huge day in the history of Norwegian football. Perhaps their biggest, to be honest.
This is the first time in 28 years they have made the knockout stages, and only the third time in their history.
However, Norway have failed to win both of their previous knockout games in the World Cup, losing in both 1938 and 1998.
Will it be third time lucky?
This is the greatest Norwegian football side the country has ever had, no debate. They arguably have the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland, one of the best attacking midfielders in this tournament in Martin Odegaard, and a whole host of other talents.
If any Norwegian side is finally going to break the knockout stages hoodoo, it's this one. Until they dropped all of their players against France, they were on fire.
I have them as the favourites today.
15:37What's in store?
Another day in paradise, they just keep getting better and better.
Yesterday we had the shock exit of the Netherlands and Germany. I'm still stunned by Paraguay dumping the Germans out, to be honest. That is one of the biggest upsets I have ever seen at the World Cup, and no, I'm not being dramatic. A huge, huge shock.
I would say we won't get any more dramatic days than that one, but who am I kidding? That's just not true.
We have another big day ahead of us, and here is the schedule:
- Ivory Coast vs Norway (18:00 BST, 13:00 ET)
- France vs Sweden (22:00 BST, 17:00 ET)
- Mexico vs Ecuador (02:00 BST, 21:00 ET)
15:32Showdown in Dallas
We have a cowboy shootout in Dallas. Let's go.
OK, maybe that is a bit dramatic, but boy, I am incredibly excited for this showdown between the Ivory Coast and Norway.
I'd say this is one of the most underrated clashes in the whole of the round of 32. Two of the dark horses galloping side by side in a bid to make the round of 16; it will be one hell of a race.
For Norway, it is their first World Cup knockout game since the 1998 World Cup in France. And after their performances in the group stage, they will be more confident than ever of winning one.
Meanwhile, it is the Ivory Coast's first knockout game in their history, an absolutely huge feat. This is the best squad they have ever had, and many believe they could easily go far.
So, strap yourselves in, and let's enjoy the ride.
Key UpdatesBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
