Norway face questions after resting Erling Haaland against France
Norway’s Strategic Changes and Match Outcome
Norway made significant changes to their starting lineup for their final group stage match against France in the World Cup 2026, opting to rest key players including Erling Haaland. This decision resulted in a 4-1 defeat for Norway at Boston Stadium, with Ousmane Dembele scoring a hat-trick for France within 25 minutes of the first half. France‘s victory secured their top position in Group I, marking their third win in three matches. Desire Doue added a fourth goal for France.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken implemented 10 changes to the team, a move he described as a “no-brainer” given that his side had already qualified for the knockout stages. The decision was influenced by discussions with the medical department and some players, who were reportedly affected after their previous game against Senegal. Ian Wright, a former England striker, suggested before the match that if Haaland needed rest for later stages of the tournament, he would take it.
Despite the changes, Norway had an opportunity to narrow the deficit when Jorgen Strand Larsen, who started in place of Haaland, missed a penalty that could have made the score 3-2 after half-time. Haaland had previously scored four goals in the two preceding group games, including two in a 3-2 win against Senegal.
Implications for Knockout Stages and Travel
The outcome of the match means France will play their last-32 fixture at the New York New Jersey Stadium on 30 June against the runners-up of Group F or G. Conversely, Norway faces a longer journey for their next game, travelling approximately 1,100 miles from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Arlington, Texas, to play Ivory Coast on the same day. Had Norway topped their group, their travel distance would have been significantly shorter.
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin highlighted the complexity of the travel arrangements, noting the “massive distances” involved if a team loses a game and needs to relocate. He also suggested that ensuring players are fit and rested might have been a primary consideration for Norway‘s management. Roy Keane, a former Republic of Ireland midfielder, echoed this sentiment, stating that Norway‘s priority was to advance from the group, and the manager likely viewed the match against France as a difficult prospect, opting to rest players for subsequent games.
France assistant Guy Stephan, who was deputising for Didier Deschamps, indicated that he was not surprised by Norway‘s extensive changes, understanding that Solbakken was preparing for the round of 32. Stephan mentioned that the effectiveness of Norway‘s decision would become clear in four days.
Historical Context and Fan Reaction
Norway‘s decision to make 10 changes to their starting XI for a World Cup match is a notable occurrence. They are only the fourth team to implement such a large number of changes in the same tournament edition. Spain made 11 changes in 2006 against Saudi Arabia and won, but subsequently lost to France in the last 16. In contrast, Belgium made 10 changes in 2018, defeated Japan 3-2, and then went on to beat Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-finals before being eliminated by France.
The strategic move by Solbakken generated some discussion among fans at Boston Stadium. While some expressed surprise, others embraced the moment, performing their Viking-style row celebration. Thousands of Norwegian supporters had travelled to the United States to support their team, and despite the outcome, the atmosphere remained engaged.
France‘s performance, particularly Dembele‘s hat-trick, showcased the depth of their attacking talent. Dembele‘s goals, often involving him cutting inside and striking with his left foot, set an early pace in the match. Kylian Mbappe also contributed with a pass that led to one of Dembele‘s goals. France is the first team since Poland in 1974 to have two players score four goals each in the group stage, with Dembele and Mbappe matching the achievement of Grzegorz Lato and Andrzej Szarmach. This expanded tournament is also the first World Cup to feature five players scoring four or more goals in the group stage.
If Norway defeats Ivory Coast, they will proceed to a last-16 tie on 5 July in New Jersey against the winners of the Brazil-Japan match.
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Source: bbc.co.uk