Ivory Coast v Norway: Get the best value from Haaland with 9/1 Bet Builder double

Well-rested Norway can win Ivory Coast battle

Click here for Ivory Coast v Norway odds
Tuesday 30 June, 18:00 kick-off
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Live on BBC One

We'll find out if Norway's controversial decision to play the second string against France pays off as they face Ivory Coast in this last 32 clash. The European side go off as 21/202.05 match favourites and are odds-on at 1/21.50 to qualify for the last 16.

Stale Solbakken has rested Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and company, but he's also piled on the pressure with his tactics - and whether he's just stifled their momentum will be a worry.

Ivory Coast are making their World Cup knockout debut but as 11/43.75 underdogs aren't expected to make it any further - while it's 12/53.40 that this one goes to extra-time.

There's not much between these two on paper but Norway hold the edge for me, even against France the reserves looked powerful and purposeful in attack, even though admittedly at the back the changes saw them lacking any sort of cohesion.

It's how the first team plays though - both teams have scored in nine of their last 10 and six of the last nine have seen over 3.5 goals. Ivory Coast play it a lot tighter with only two of seven seeing both teams score.

Ivory Coast haven't conceded first yet in the tournament though, and if the trigger happy Norwegians strike first this could get really tasty.

Both teams to score is fancied at 8/131.61 and over 2.5 goals is 4/51.80 and I think something of a given.

I was sweet on Norway pre-tournament and there's not been much to change my mind so far, so even though Jorgen Strand Larsen's woeful penalty cost us a winner last time, I'll stick with them to have too much firepower for the powerful Africans.

Big value 9/110.00 Bet Builder best way to back Erling Haaland

Like a lot of things, there's not much between them in terms of corners won, Norway edging it 14-12, but backing them to have more corners at 4/61.67 makes a lot of sense as Ivory Coast have conceded 18 to just 11 for Norway.

And one look at Norway left-back David Moller Wolfe's five fouls in two games (3,2) shows you his OddsBoost of 1/12.00 for 2+ fouls here is a good one as he'll be up against Amad Diallo among others.

But we all want to back Erling Haaland somehow don't we? And surprise, surprise Haaland is 8/131.61 favourite to score anytime, and after banging in so many goals and us missing out on being able to back him against France there'll be money piling in on him to score again.

Haaland's just 16/54.20 to score 2+ goals and while that might seem a bit short at first glance there's heavy form behind it as the last six game he's scored in he's bagged twice or more - and all within his last eight outings. Plus this seems to be a World Cup where big names are thriving game after game.

Scoring another two could be a big ask, even for him. I'd keep that bet for a single though as he's in such good form, but if you're after something bigger for a Bet Builder we'll take the 2/13.00 on Haaland hitting the target 3+ times - which he's also done in both games so far.

Deniz Undav came off the bench for Germany to score twice and hit the target three times against Ivory Coast with his clever movement in the box and that striker's eye for space being too hot to handle - Haaland should be able to carve out the same chances.

And I do like the fouls option with Haaland, you have to scroll down the Sportsbook a long way to find his name and odds of 11/43.75 for 2+ fouls but he's hit that in both games, and this will be a physical battle make no mistake.

That's two pretty consistent data points to back Haaland on for a big return of over 9/110.00 - and at least this time he's certain to start!

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