Norway and France face off in their final group-stage fixture on Friday at the Boston Stadium, with both teams looking to secure the top spot in the group.
Norway vs France – Match preview and team news
- Date: Friday, 26th June.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA.
Norway team news
Norway enters this final group-stage fixture with several fitness concerns following their gruelling 3-2 victory over Senegal.
Primary right-back Julian Ryerson is highly unlikely to feature in the match after limping off early in that game with a severe thigh injury.
Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is fully prepared to start in his place. Additionally, centre-back Torbjorn Heggem remains a major doubt after picking up a painful late knock, which likely clears a path for Leo Ostigard to step directly into the central defence alongside Kristoffer Ajer.
Beyond these forced adjustments, manager Ståle Solbakken might prioritise squad preservation for the upcoming knockout rounds.
Erling Haaland and midfield captain Martin Ødegaard could both play once again, even though they have qualified. Jørgen Strand Larsen and Kristian Thorstvedt might get minutes off the bench.
France team news
France makes major changes of their own, starting on the touchline, where assistant coach Guy Stéphan will lead the team.
Head coach Didier Deschamps temporarily left the camp to return to France following the tragic passing of his mother.
On the pitch, France plans to make up to five tactical rotations to keep the squad fresh for the next round.
Elite centre-back William Saliba will be deliberately rested to manage a persistent back issue, allowing Maxence Lacroix to deputise in central defence.
Elsewhere in the starting lineup, Malo Gusto is heavily tipped to replace Jules Koundé at right-back, while Théo Hernandez will likely reclaim the left-back slot from Lucas Digne.
Crucially, midfield anchor Aurélien Tchouaméni is fit to return to the pivot, anchoring a heavily rotated attack that could still feature Kylian Mbappé.
Form
Norway
Norway enters this match in excellent form, riding high after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal that officially secured their spot in the Round of 32.
Ståle Solbakken’s squad has shown impressive attacking fluidity throughout the group stage, consistently creating high-quality chances.
While their backline has occasionally looked vulnerable to fast transitions, their resilient team spirit and clinical finishing have kept them unbeaten, putting them in direct contention for the top spot in Group I.
France
France has mirrored their opponents’ dominance with an equally perfect start to their World Cup campaign. Les Bleus cruised through their initial matches, convincing with a commanding 3-1 triumph against Senegal and following it up with a comprehensive 3-0 masterclass over Iraq.
Showcasing defensive solidity alongside Kylian Mbappé’s standard attacking brilliance, the tournament heavyweights are in peak physical form and remain heavily motivated to secure a final victory to seal their group’s top spot.
Predicted lineups
Norway: Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Lysaker Heggem, Wolfe; Berge, Aursnes, Odegaard; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa
France: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba; Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Chherki, Doue; Mbappe
How to watch Norway vs France?
In the UK, you can watch the Norway vs France match live and completely for free on ITV1.
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