Preview: Norway and France meet to decide Group I

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By Karl Matchett

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Naturally, France will be the favourites here. They have the history, the expectation, the Champions League winners and the most feared attacking line. Norway, though, have Erling Haaland.

Will he really have more chances?

Winning the World Cup itself might prove forever beyond a nation like Norway, but the Golden Boot is very definitely within the reach of a giant Nordic striker who has better than a goal a game strike rate on the international stage. Haaland, 59 strikes to his name in 52 caps, is very much seizing his chance to leave an indelible mark at a major finals. He – like opponent Kylian Mbappé and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior – has four goals in two games, one behind only Lionel Messi (obviously). And already pundits and experts are touting his potential to be one of the World Cup’s greatest-ever scorers, given time.

World Cup Golden Boot leaders

But Haaland will know that may not be realistic. After all, Messi has just broken that record and he’s at his sixth finals. Norway are playing their first in 28 years – there’s just no telling how often he’ll be back, let alone his form and fitness at the time. Certainly Haaland will hope to return, but he won’t be taking that for granted and even with Norway through to the last 32, he’ll want to max out every opportunity he gets on the pitch to add to his own legend and keep Norway plotting a path through North America.

Allez les rotations

We’ve all seen managers make sweeping alterations in the third group game, to keep some players fresh and have others feel involved. It would be a bit of a risk for Didier Deschamps’ coaching staff to do that here though, given France and Norway are tied on six points and with the (presumed) benefits finishing first can bring. Still, France have a stacked squad and the boss did switch up his whole left flank between games one and two. Ibrahima Konaté, N’Golo Kanté and Jean-Philippe Mateta are among those yet to feature, and even a draw will see France finish first.

The side note is Deschamps himself will be absent, following a family bereavement. Guy Stephan will be in charge.

Recent form

Two wins from two apiece at the World Cup, with Senegal and Iraq both vanquished. Norway have scored one more, but conceded two more, across the pair of fixtures played.

Team news

Full-back Julian Ryerson is the only major doubt, though Torbjørn Heggem had an issue in the last game.

William Saliba could be rested after noting he had a few niggles.

Key player

For all Haaland’s threat, Mbappé has the supply line. He’s two years older than the Norwegian but has 12 World Cup goals more. His four in this tournament have come from 12 shots, seven on target, an xG of 1.99 and through 17 touches in the box. The French captain is unstoppable at his best.

Prediction

A fearless approach from both but the greater firepower to win the game: Norway 1-2 France.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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