A mouthwatering duel between in-form goalscorers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will take centre stage at the World Cup on Friday as France face Norway in a crucial Group I decider. Real Madrid star Mbappe and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in blistering form, neck-and-neck on four goals apiece in the race for the Golden Boot, just behind leader Lionel Messi on five.
On Friday the two forwards will meet in a heavyweight collision at Foxborough, outside Boston at 3:00 pm local time (2000 GMT), with top spot in the group up for grabs. France, who looked majestic in swatting aside Senegal and Iraq, hold a slight advantage, with their superior goal difference meaning Les Bleus need only a draw to clinch first place in the group.
But the Norwegians have been equally impressive, routing Iraq 4-1 in their opener before beating Senegal 3-2 on Monday. Haaland, playing in his first World Cup, has revelled in the global spotlight, playing with a swashbuckling gusto that could well ask hard questions of even France’s experienced defence. The 25-year-old has also embraced the tournament off the pitch, delighted at his ability to go sightseeing in New York City in relative anonymity.
After clinching a place in the last 32 with the win over Senegal, Haaland insisted he was nonplussed at the prospect of facing France who he regards as favourites for the tournament and laughed off suggestions that Norway were title contenders. “To win the World Cup, absolutely not,” he told Fox television. “We’ve won 12 competitive games in a row now. I’m part of something special, making history, and I’m extremely proud to be Norwegian,” adding that he “couldn’t care” about playing France.
“They’re probably going to win against us, they’re probably going to win the whole tournament,” he said.
