Ivory Coast's Diomande brushes off transfer speculation to focus on Norway tie

[p]The 19-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rb-leipzig/KbS1suSm/"]RB Leipzig[/a] to ‌European champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]Paris St Germain[/a], but stressed his focus was ‌solely on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ivory-coast-G2FRjBgn/norway-8rP6JO0H/?mid=tx2IC6G7"]the clash at Dallas Stadium[/a].[/p][p][b]"I don't have the internet, Instagram, ‌TikTok and that kind of thing, so regarding the discussions with ‌my club it's my agent that does that,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"It's a great chance to play at the World Cup and I want to make the ‌most of that. I remain focused on that ⁠and I really want to ‌enjoy this World Cup as much as possible."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory[/a] Coast go into the game ​with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/solbakken-stale/pxok8eTM/"]Stale Solbakken[/a]'s side having finished second in Group E behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] to qualify for the knockout rounds at the ​World Cup for the first time.[/p][embed guid="5c8804a1-9b43-4309-9d47-6f85bae8d435" url="https://x.com/equipenatciv/status/2071294899530441015" social-type="twitter" /][p]Coach Emerse Fae confirmed defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/singo-wilfried/Ym8dZot0/"]Wilfried Singo[/a] would not be fit enough to play having sustained a ⁠hamstring injury in the ​loss to the Germans but that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/n-dicka-obite/0ORJzjri/"]Evan Ndicka[/a] is available after not featuring in the group phase.[/p][p]Fae knows the qualities of the opponents, but knows his side have their capabilities, too.[/p][p]"[b]They are a good team, an organised team, great individual players but they play well together, very intensive, impactful and they're very pragmatic,"[/b] he said. [b]"They don't need five or six attempts to score, they're clinical in front of goal.[/b][/p][p][b]"We do have our strengths, we know how to play and we will be up to the challenge on the physical side and we will try to control ‌the game and impose our pace."[/b][/p][p]The former midfielder admitted to being wary of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a]'s collective approach while also reserving praise for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Erling Haaland[/a], ‌his team's top scorer at this World Cup with four goals in two appearances.[/p][p][b]"Haaland, I don't need talk about him, ​everyone knows him. He's a top player, he's got a ‌lot of energy. When you watch him play he looks very proud to play for his country.[/b][/p][p][b]"He's an example for his teammates and he does a great deal for his team, for the group. He can strike on any occasion really, in ⁠any way that you can ⁠imagine,"[/b] said Fae.[/p][p][b]"He's really a special ‌player and Norway is lucky to have him."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-championship/"]Follow Ivory Coast vs Norway and every World Cup knockout match on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]