BBC co-commentator Danny Murphy told an odd anecdote about his missing cat Bob during Norway’s World Cup last-32 match against Ivory Coast, right as Oscar Bobb made his 71st-minute introduction. The moment triggered laughter, a late Ivory Coast equaliser a min
Danny Murphy didn’t mean to go off-script, but during Norway’s World Cup last-32 match against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, his brief detour became the story.
Murphy was co-commentating alongside Steve Bower as Norway tried to finish the job after introducing Fulham winger Oscar Bobb as a 71st-minute substitute. Bobb’s first touch sent the ball deep into the Ivory Coast half. and Bower seized the moment—”Here’s Bobb’s first involvement”—before Murphy followed with a line that left viewers blinking.
“I used to have a cat called Bob.” Bower’s response came straight back with a smile: “The game’s not that bad.”
Murphy then carried it further, saying: “He jumped in the back of a Royal Mail van and lost him.” He added, deadpan: “sad really… anyway,” prompting Bower to echo “anyway” before the two pulled the broadcast back toward the football.
The switch in tone lasted only minutes, and the game itself quickly reminded everyone why commentary momentum matters. Norway’s progress was disrupted almost immediately: Bower’s “not that bad” line proved prophetic because the Ivory Coast scored an equaliser just one minute later.
A flowing Ivory Coast attack ended with Amad Diallo exchanging passes to break into the Norway box. The Man United winger cut onto his left foot and fired into the net.
Norway, though, kept going and eventually secured the result. Erling Haaland scored the winning goal four minutes from time, sending Norway into the last-16.
Norway’s reward is a showdown against Brazil on Sunday in New Jersey.
The cat anecdote didn’t just land on the broadcast—it spilled onto social media. One viewer joked that Royal Mail should have delivered “Bob” back to Murphy.
World Cup Norway Ivory Coast Danny Murphy Steve Bower Oscar Bobb Erling Haaland Amad Diallo Brazil New Jersey Royal Mail cat Bob