Decision vindicated. The Norway coach, Ståle Solbakken, had taken a major gamble in resting almost his entire side in the final group game against France, drawing stiff criticism, not least from those who had paid hundreds of dollars to witness a showdown between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. As Solbakken said, the decision would stand or fall on the result of this game.
Norway are in the last 16, players and fans celebrating with a communal Viking row led by Martin Ødegaard, and therefore his policy can be considered justified.
