Sources: Haaland to miss France World Cup clash
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Erling Haaland will start on the substitutes' bench for Norway's World Cup Group I clash against France, denting his Golden Boot bid
- Stale Solbakken is planning to rest ten players despite Norway needing to win in Foxborough to top the group and avoid a round-of-32 tie against Ivory Coast in Dallas and a potential round-of-16 meeting with Brazil
- Haaland is tied on four goals with France's Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race, one behind Argentina's Lionel Messi
- Both Norway and France have already secured round-of-32 qualification after winning both of their opening group games
- A draw for France will secure top spot and a round-of-32 tie against a third-place qualifier in New Jersey next Tuesday
- Fredrik Aursnes is the only player to retain his starting spot from Norway's 3-2 win against Senegal on Monday
Why it matters: Solbakken's wholesale rotation forfeits both the Golden Boot chase for Haaland and a winnable group-topping scenario that could have steered Norway away from Ivory Coast and a potential Brazil round-of-16 clash, prioritizing squad freshness for the round of 32 instead.
Ask SkimNews
