Haaland, Odegaard rested as Norway rotate squad for France clash
Norway will be without Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in their final Group stage match against France, with both stars rested ahead of the Round of 32 after securing qualification.
Norway will be without star duo Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard for their final Group stage fixture against France, after head coach Ståle Solbakken opted to rotate his squad following qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.
Both sides have already secured progression with six points from two matches, while Senegal and Iraq are eliminated with zero points. However, the final group match will decide who finishes top of the group.
Solbakken's decision to rest Haaland and Odegaard is not injury-related, but part of workload management after a demanding season.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Haaland, who scored twice in each of Norway's wins over Senegal and Iraq to lead the tournament's Golden Boot race, will start on the bench as Norway prioritise his fitness for the knockout stage.
Odegaard, the Arsenal captain, has also been left out of the starting XI despite being fully fit, with the coaching staff opting for rotation to preserve his energy for the next phase of the tournament.
Norway's attack has been heavily driven by Haaland's form, while Odegaard has played a central role in linking midfield and forward play. Their absence is expected to prompt tactical adjustments as Norway prepare for one of their biggest tests of the group stage against a strong French side.
France, meanwhile, enter the fixture aiming to finish top of the group, knowing that a positive result would secure a more favourable knockout path.
