Norway
Senegal
Norway can wrap up qualification from Group I when they host Senegal at the New York New Jersey Stadium late on Monday night. Erling Haaland's brace put Norway top of the group on matchday one, while Senegal pushed France hard before eventually losing 3-1. Opta's pre-tournament model had Norway as the second-most likely side in Group I to progress, behind only France, with Senegal next best and Iraq the rank outsider — a result here would go a long way to confirming that order.
Norway — The Vikings
It was a result that papered over some defensive cracks. Haaland's double either side of a Leo Ostigard header did the damage against Iraq, but Stale Solbakken admitted afterwards that the back line and midfield were poor in possession for long stretches — Kristoffer Ajer in particular endured a difficult night defensively, while David Moller Wolfe had to be withdrawn in the 73rd minute and Julian Ryerson complained of muscular fatigue at full time. Both full-backs have since made swift recoveries and are expected to be available for selection, with Solbakken able to call on his entire squad.
Ostigard's cameo off the bench was a bright spot, and both Andreas Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb pushed their case for a recall during the week, but the predicted XI sticks with the same front three of Antonio Nusa, Haaland and Alexander Sorloth that started the opener, with Martin Odegaard — who set a UEFA-high seven assists in qualifying — pulling the strings behind them. Haaland is now on an 11-game scoring streak for his country and, remarkably, had more shots (5) than completed passes (4) against Iraq, the first player to manage that in a World Cup match since Fernando Torres during Spain's triumphant 2010 campaign. This is his first major tournament — Norway's last appearance was Euro 2000, three weeks before he was born.
Senegal — Lions of Teranga
Few changes are expected from the side that gave France a real fright. Ibrahim Mbaye's response to Bradley Barcola's opener made the 18-year-old the youngest African scorer in World Cup history and has him knocking on the door for a start ahead of Ismaila Sarr, but head coach Pape Thiaw — who was an unused substitute when Senegal famously beat France 1-0 at the 2002 World Cup — is predicted to stick with the same front three of Sarr, Nicolas Jackson and Sadio Mane that started in defeat. Mane, who missed the 2022 World Cup through injury, arrives in good form after winning the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr.
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Pape Gueye continue to shield the back four, with Kalidou Koulibaly anchoring central defence. A repeat of Senegal's best-ever World Cup showing — the 2002 quarter-final, secured under current boss Thiaw's watch as a player — still feels some way off, but avoiding a fourth straight match without a win (a run last suffered in June 2018, when Senegal weren't even at the World Cup) starts with a result here. The teams' only previous meeting, a 2006 friendly, ended in a 2-1 win for Senegal.
Predicted Lineups
Key Battle
Erling Haaland vs Senegal's central defence. Haaland's shot volume against Iraq says everything about how Norway use him as their central outlet. Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhate will need a far more disciplined collective performance than Senegal showed at times against France if they're to keep him quiet for 90 minutes.
Prediction
Both sides have shown they can be got at defensively, which points toward goals at both ends. Norway's superior firepower and home comforts at the top of the group should just about see them through, but Senegal have enough up top to make this an entertaining watch rather than a rout.
Norway 2–2 Senegal — Haaland, Sorloth — Mane, Jackson
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