Norway and France meet tonight with first place in World Cup Group I at stake – and the surprise is complete: Erling Haaland starts on the bench.
France might have been expected to cruise through a tough group with Senegal and Iraq, but Norway has surprised everyone with a brilliant return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence.
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Ståle Solbakken’s team opened with a convincing 4-1 win over Iraq, before following up with a 3-2 win against Senegal – and thus two wins in two games. Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé have both scored four goals each and been crucial for their teams.
Norwegian team news
The big surprise is Solbakken’s decision to rest Haaland – along with several of the regular starters. Thus, we get to see an experimental Norwegian crew against an almost full France.
Norway (4-3-3): Selvik – Østigård, Bjørkan, Falchener – Berg, Aursnes, Thorstvedt, Aasgaard – Schjelderup, Bobb – Strand Larsen
Substitutes: (soon)
French team news
Didier Deschamps makes four changes to the starting eleven. Theo Hernandez and Maxence Lacroix come into the back four – replacing Lucas Digne and William Saliba. Aurélien Tchouaméni replaces Adrien Rabiot in midfield, while Désiré Doué is preferred over Bradley Barcola in attack.
France (4-3-3): Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, T. Hernandez – Tchouaméni, Koné – Olise, Doué, Dembélé – Mbappé
Substitutes: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Digne, Konaté, Saliba, L. Hernandez, Kanté, Rabiot, Zaire-Emery, Cherki, Akliouche, Thuram, Barcola, Mateta
Key figures for Norway vs. France
- Norway has won both of their matches in Group I.
- Erling Haaland has scored four goals in two World Cup games.
- The Vikings have scored seven goals in two games.
- France have also won both of their group games.
- Kylian Mbappé has matched Haaland with four goals in the tournament.
- France only needs a draw to win Group I.
- France have scored six goals and conceded just one so far.
- Norway’s last victory over France came in August 2010.
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