Why Norway is benching Erling Haaland, other starters against France in Group I finale

Why Norway is benching Erling Haaland, other starters against France in Group I finale originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Norway and France clash in Group I on Friday with their places in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup already secured.

Both European nations made short work of their group opponents. France beat Senegal 3-1 and Iraq 3-0. The Lions of Mesopotamia had already been swept aside 4-1 by Norway, who duly beat Senegal 3-2 in an entertaining contest.

Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe scored two goals apiece in each of their first two outings at the World Cup. Tied on four overall, they are only behind the great Lionel Messi (five) in the Golden Boot race.

Fans across the globe were braced to see an Mbappe vs. Haaland showdown, but Norway head coach Stale Solbakken had other ideas.

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Why isn’t Erling Haaland playing vs. France?

Before kickoff, French sports daily L’Equipe reported Haaland was one of several Norway first-team players who would start among the substitutes.

The reason for this is that Norway are already through to the knockout stages, and the path for teams qualifying from Group I does not overwhelmingly suggest that coming first offers a huge advantage in the Round of 32.

The winner of Group I will face a third-place finisher, while the team in second will take on Group E runner-up Ivory Coast.

Current projections, although these are liable to change over the course of the remaining group-stage matches, have the Group I winner taking on Sweden.

This is not a notably easier game than the Ivory Coast, while there are definite arguments against Norway having to endure the intensity of a Scandinavian derby versus their bitter rivals in New York on June 30. The Ivory Coast Round of 32 match takes place under the roof of AT&T Stadium in Arlington on the same day.

The two Group I paths feature probable last-16 encounters with Germany and Brazil, so there’s not really a preferable, softer route. 

Put simply. Solbakken has made the calculation that there is no situation in which Norway topping their group is worth risking Haaland’s health for the knockouts.

Who is Norway resting vs. France?

While the official teamsheets are yet to be confirmed, L’Equipe reported that Norway and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard would also be benched alongside Haaland.

The paper reported that Stolbakken could make up to 10 changes – all of his starting outfielders – from the team that beat Senegal.