France and Norway battle for leadership of Group I in Boston on Friday after both booking spots in the World Cup knockouts with two wins from as many games. Star strikers Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland go head to head in the race for the top scorer’s Golden Boot, though the Manchester City forward starts from the bench as Norway look to rest players ahead of the round of 32. Follow our live, minute-by-minute match commentary.
The lineups
Norway: Egil Selvik – Leo Ostigard, Fredrik Bjorkan, Henrik Falchener, Patrick Berg – Kristian Thorstvedt, Thelo Aasgaard, Andreas Schjelderup, Oscar Bobb, Fredrik Aursnes – Jorgen Strand Larsen
France: Mike Maignan – Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernandez – Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouameni – Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé – Kylian Mbappé.
Kounde gifts Norway a corner, but it’s headed away by Barcola, who is defending better than France’s defenders.
Norway still have most of the ball.
Senegal 4-0 Iraq
Senegal are now piling on the goals.
Roooow!
The Vikings are rowing in the stands… their team really should’ve scored a second by now.
Photo: Jeenah Moon, Reuters
Maignan with a terrific save
A spendid save from the French keeper to deny Norway’s Bobb, who has been excellent in the second half.
France need to address those gaping gaps at the back.
A third for Senegal!
Pape Gueye makes it 3-0 for Senegal barely two minutes after coming off the bench.
That’s even better news for the Lions of Teranga… and very, very bad news for Scotland.
Dembélé comes off to standing ovation
The hat-trick man is replaced by Bradley Barcola.
The attacking talent on that France bench is truly something.
Mbappé blocked
France have settled down after those jittery few minutes.
Their captain does one of his blistering runs before firing from the edge of the box, but a defender gets in the way.
Senegal get a second!
A much-needed goal for Senegal in the group’s other game. They lead Iraq 2-0 and can still hope to qualify in third place.
Cramps for the Norway keeper?
A cracking Mbappé shot from distance sends the Norway keeper flying… but the effort appears to hav triggered cramps and Selvik needs treatment.
Ostigard’s header is just wide
Another chance for Norway, who have been much the better team since the break.
What a shame for them that Haaland wasn’t on the pitch to take that penalty.
Maignan saves!
A terrible effort by Strand Larsen is easily parried by the French keeper.
But the French defence has been asleep since returning from the break.
Penalty for Norway!
Bobb falls over the outstretched leg of Theo Hernandez and Norway have a penalty!
We’re off again!
And another one
Some half-time reading
Half-time!
That was thoroughly entertaining stuff.
The final score is anyone’s guess.
Five minutes of added time
Olise has a shot from distance but the ball flies over the bar.
Two of the world’s most fearsome strikers face off at the World Cup on Friday as France and Norway battle for leadership of Group I at Foxborough stadium, outside Boston.
Two-time champions France hold a slight advantage, with their superior goal difference meaning Les Bleus need only a draw to clinch first place in the group.
