Ivory Coast's Diomande brushes off speculation to stay focused on Norway

In-demand forward Yan Diomande has insisted that speculation surrounding his club future has not been a distraction as Ivory Coast prepares to face Norway in the World Cup last 32. The 19-year-old, heavily linked with a move from RB Leipzig to Paris Saint-Germain, stressed his sole focus is on the upcoming match.

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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. 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.

"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," Diomande said. "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."

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They are a good team, an organised team, great individual players but they play well together, very intensive, impactful and they're very pragmatic. They don't need five or six attempts to score, they're clinical in front of goal.

Ivory Coast qualified for the knockout rounds for the first time by finishing second in Group E behind Germany. Coach Emerse Fae expressed caution regarding Norway's organized and collective approach, while acknowledging the threat posed by their top scorer, Erling Haaland. "They are a good team, an organised team, great individual players but they play well together, very intensive, impactful and they're very pragmatic," Fae commented on Norway. "They don't need five or six attempts to score, they're clinical in front of goal."

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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.

Fae also highlighted Ivory Coast's own strengths, stating, "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." He reserved particular praise for Haaland, calling him "a top player" and "an example for his teammates," noting that "He can strike on any occasion really, in any way that you can imagine."

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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. 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. He's really a special player and Norway is lucky to have him.