Norway and France meet at Gillette Stadium in Boston tonight to decide the winner of Group I, with Golden Boot rivals Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe going head-to-head. The match kicks off at 8pm BST and is televised live on ITV1.
Group Standings and Stakes
Norway opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-1 victory over Iraq—their first World Cup match in 28 years—before edging Senegal 3-2. Haaland scored twice in each game. France, meanwhile, beat Senegal 3-1 and then defeated Iraq 3-0, with Mbappe also bagging braces in both matches. The winner of this match will top Group I and face one of the eight best third-placed teams from Groups C, D, F, G, or H. The runner-up will play the second-placed team in Group K. A draw would see France finish first due to superior goal difference.
Team News and Injuries
Norway left-back Julian Ryerson went off in the 13th minute against Senegal with a thigh injury and is unlikely to feature. His replacement, Marcus Pedersen, scored and is expected to start. Centre-back Torbjorn Heggem was also forced off late in that match and may be a doubt; Leo Ostigard would replace him. France defender William Saliba has been playing through minor injuries, according to his own admission, and could be rested. Midfielder Manu Kone started against Iraq after Aurelien Tchouameni experienced pre-match discomfort and may start again. Malo Gusto, who came on late against Iraq with a foot injury, could also start.
Coaching Change for France
France will be without head coach Didier Deschamps, who returned to France following the death of his mother. Assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the team against Norway.
Prediction and Key Matchups
Both teams have been free-scoring, and the match is expected to be high-scoring. Martin Odegaard, who assisted Haaland's second goal against Iraq, will look to exploit new Real Madrid signing Ibrahima Konate if he replaces Saliba. The prediction is a 4-2 win for France, with Haaland and Mbappe both likely to score.
Head-to-Head and Odds
Historically, France have won seven matches, Norway five, with four draws. Odds from UK betting sites: Norway to win 7/2, France to win 8/15, draw 13/5. Gambling responsibly is advised.
