Norway and France both enter this matchup undefeated.
The top spot in Group I is up for grabs in a much-anticipated game.
European powerhouses will clash on June 26 in Boston.
One of the most exciting matches of the World Cup so far, Norway vs France, will not only feature two of the best players on the planet but also have incredible stakes.
The winner of the matchup will top Group I, as both Norway and France have won their first two games convincingly. A slightly superior goal difference means France will come out first if there’s a draw.
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Kylian Mbappe vs Erling Haaland. The two superstar forwards have been in scintillating form to begin the tournament, with back-to-back braces for both players. Overall, France and Norway have been among the best attacking sides at the World Cup. France has scored 6 goals, while Norway has scored 7. So, with both teams already locked into the knockout phase, a fireworks show of attacking football might be in the cards.
That will likely suit France, which has been the stronger defensive side of the two. Les Bleus, which will be without manager Didier Deschamps after his mother’s death, have only conceded one goal so far at the World Cup. Norway has needed to rely more on its goal-scoring abilities, as its defense couldn’t keep Senegal (2 goals) or Iraq (1 goal) off the scoresheet.
Despite its talents, France continues to rely on being methodical and organized, and to great effect. The team’s ability to stick to its game plan and not get overly aggressive is what has led it to back-to-back World Cup finals. So, Norway is expected to be the aggressors, especially knowing a draw seals a tougher road through the knockouts.
Draw (+360)
While France is rightfully the favorite, we see value in betting on a draw (+360). It’s hard to see France being bested by Norway with the group on the line, but we can see them being comfortable playing for a draw if everything is tied up later in the game.
Norway will push forward aggressively, opening itself up to fast French counters led by Mbappe. But Norway’s attack has been so impressive that we see them being able to recover from any setback, though a winner will elude them.
Over 2.5 Goals (-166)
Both France and Norway’s opening two games hit the over, and we expect the trend to continue. When a game has the likes of Mbappe, Haaland, and Ousmane Dembélé, as well as a host of other top attackers, you’re bound to have many goal-scoring opportunities.
The setup of this game also has us leaning toward the over. Naturally aggressive, Norway knows it can’t afford a draw. A loss, even a big loss, is the same as a draw, so Haaland and Co. have no reason not to try to press forward.
While France can be conservative at times and is more about efficiency in attack, it has scored three or more goals in 7 of its last 10 matches. At -166 at FanDuel, one of the leading World Cup betting sites, we’re confidently taking the over.
Erling Haaland (+130)
With France the clear favorites, Mbappe is naturally the leading anytime goalscorer candidate at -110. But considering how well both he and Haaland have been performing, we see value in the difference in their odds and will roll with Haaland at +130.
Norway has fewer goal-scoring threats than France, as most teams do. Consequently, more of Norway’s attacks revolve around Haaland. During World Cup qualifying, the Manchester City striker had an astonishing 16 goals. No other player in his region had more than 8, showing how much Norway relies on its talisman.
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