Norway to Rest Haaland in Group-Stage Decider Against France

France and Norway meet in Foxborough at 22:00 in a top-of-Group I clash, with both teams already assured of a place in the round of 32. The match now decides the easier route in the knockout stage, and France needs only a draw to finish first, while Norway must win to overtake it.

The anticipated individual showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will not fully materialize from the start. Norway coach Stale Solbakken is making 10 changes to his lineup and has decided to leave Haaland on the bench, with only Fredrik Aursnes retaining his place from the previous team. The reported Norway XI includes Egil Selvik, Fredrik Bjorkan, Leo Ostigard, Henrik Palerud, Thilo Aasgaard, Kristian Thorstvedt, Oscar Bobb, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Andreas Schjelderup.

Haaland and Mbappe have each scored four goals in the tournament so far, and both are still chasing the Golden Boot. On the France side, coach Didier Deschamps is absent after the death of his mother, so assistant Guy Stephan will be on the touchline. William Saliba, who has back problems, will not start, and Maxence Lacroix takes his place in central defense.

The match is being officiated by England's Michael Oliver at Gillette Stadium. The table shows France and Norway level on six points from two games, ahead of Senegal and Iraq, who have no points. The round of 32 begins Sunday.