Erling Haaland’s absence from Norway’s starting XI in the decisive final game of Group I against France came as a shock to many, but Ståle Solbakken had warned that tough decisions would have to be made in this “pressure cooker” of a World Cup tournament.
A pair of victories against Iraq and Senegal guaranteed Norway a spot in the round of 32, an enormous achievement for a nation which hadn’t previously qualified for a World Cup group stage during Haaland’s life. France matched those results, setting up a straight shootout for top spot on Friday in Boston which would theoretically provide an easier route through the knockout stages.
