Norway and France have both made substantial changes to their starting line-ups for their World Cup Group I encounter. With both nations having already secured qualification for the knockout stages, managers have opted to rotate their squads.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has made 10 changes to the team that played against Senegal. Only Fredrik Aursnes retains his place, moving from central midfield to right-back. This means key players such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are on the bench for tonight’s match.
Norway’s Line-up Changes
The Norwegian starting XI features Selvik in goal, with a defensive line of Aursnes, Falchener, Ostigard, and Bjorkan. The midfield comprises Thorstvedt and Berg, while Bobb, Aasgaard, and Schjelderup will support lone striker Strand Larsen.
The substitutes’ bench for Norway includes a strong contingent of players, indicating the depth of the squad. Among those available are Berge, Haaland, Nusa, Hauge, Pedersen, Nyland, Langas, Heggem, Moller Wolfe, Ryerson, Sorloth, Tangvik, Thorsby, Ajer, and Odegaard.
France Also Rotates Squad
France has also made four changes to the team that secured a victory against Iraq. Players such as William Saliba and Bradley Barcola have been rotated to the bench. Aurelien Tchouameni and Desire Doue have been given starting berths.
Kylian Mbappe retains his place in the starting XI as he continues his pursuit of Lionel Messi‘s record as the all-time World Cup top scorer. Mbappe requires two goals to equal Messi‘s record and three to surpass it.
The French starting line-up includes Maignan in goal, with Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, and T. Hernandez forming the defence. Tchouameni and Kone are in midfield, supporting an attacking line of Dembele, Olise, Doue, and Mbappe.
The French substitutes include Akliouche, Barcola, Cherki, Digne, Gusto, L. Hernandez, Kante, Konate, Mateta, Rabiot, Risser, Saliba, Samba, Thuram, and Zaire-Emery. Assistant coach Guy Stephan is stepping in for Didier Deschamps, who is absent due to a family funeral.
Excitement is building in Oslo as fans gather for the match, despite the significant team changes. The fixture provides an opportunity for both teams to manage player fatigue ahead of the knockout stages.
In other news from the World Cup, Reece James missed England training in Kansas City due to hamstring tightness and is expected to miss the game against Panama on Saturday. Ezri Konsa is likely to move to right-back in his absence.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez stated that preparations for their match against Colombia began in March, with 13 training sessions in Miami to adapt to the weather and different playing surfaces.
Japan is preparing to face Brazil in the last 32, with defender Yukinari Sugawara emphasising the need for the team to give 120 percent. Defender Shogo Taniguchi highlighted the high stakes, stating that losing means elimination from the tournament.
Bastian Schweinsteiger has addressed criticism regarding his comments on African football, stating he was providing a football analysis and did not intend to offend anyone. His comments were characterised as describing an “unorthodox” and “wild” playing style, which was criticised by Côte d’Ivoire coach Emerse Fae.
The match between Norway and France is scheduled for Friday, 26 June 2026.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
