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It was billed as the Golden Boot showdown of the World Cup between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Haaland eventually started on the bench and it quickly turned into an Ousmane Dembele show after the France-like Ballon d’Or winner scored a stunning hat-trick in the 25th minute. Won 4-1 at Boston Stadium.
While France took the attacking talent they hope will win World Cup glory in New Jersey on July 19, Norway decided this final group game was the right time to drop Manchester City forward Haaland from the starting XI for the first time since 2024.
Norway boss Stel Solbakken, with his team already in the knockout stages, opted to make a full 10 changes, although it wasn’t just Haaland.
“A no-brainer,” he said of why he decided to make so many changes.
“My part and from the physio, the health and medical department and some of the players.
“The only consideration was for the Norway fans. They wanted to see Erling and Martin (Odegard) play.
“After the Senegal game we did a summary and after 80 minutes five or six players (were) very affected. The whole defensive line and one or two midfielders.”
As a result of the change, Dembele filled his boot after Mbappe hit the underside of the crossbar in the first minute.
“If Arling Haaland needs a rest for the final stages of the tournament, he will take it,” former England striker Ian Wright told ITV Sport ahead of the game.
With Haaland, who had scored four goals in the previous two group games, sitting on the bench, his deputy Jorgen Strand Larsen missed a penalty that would have made it 3-2 after half-time.
Haaland had already made his feelings clear about facing France after scoring twice in a 3–2 win over Senegal on 23 June.
“I can’t care too much about that game now,” he said after Norway qualified for the knockout stages.
“They’re probably going to win against us. They’re probably going to win the whole tournament.”
So was it a smart move by Norway to change so much – or the wrong decision?
