Why is Erling Haaland not playing today? Know reason ahead of France vs Norway clash

Much of the pre-match attention had centered on a showdown between star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, who both enter the contest with four goals.

The highly anticipated clash between France and Norway, which will determine the group winner, is set to kick off at Boston Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Erling Haaland starts on bench vs France in group winner deciding fixture. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Much of the pre-match attention had centered on a showdown between star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, who both enter the contest with four goals.

However, fans will not get to witness that battle from the opening whistle.

Haaland not listed in starting XI

Haaland has been left out of Norway's starting lineup and will begin the match on the bench. He is joined by several other key players, including Martin Odegaard.

The decision appears to be a strategic one from Norway head coach Stale Solbakken, who has opted to rest as many as 10 players that started the team's previous victory over Senegal.

With the stakes expected to rise as the match progresses, Solbakken could turn to his star names later in the game in hopes of providing a decisive impact off the bench.

Norway's starting XI vs France

Here is the starting lineup Ståle Solbakken has selected for Norway's crucial group-deciding clash in Foxborough:

Egil Selvik, Leo Østigård, Fredrik André Bjørkan, Henrik Falchener, Patrick Berg, Fredrik Aursnes, Kristian Thorstvedt, Thelo Aasgaard, Andreas Schjelderup, Oscar Bobb and Jørgen Strand Larsen.

The Norwegian manager has opted for a heavily rotated side, leaving several high-profile players on the bench for the opening stages of the contest.

Remarkably, none of the players who started Norway's previous World Cup victory over Senegal were named in the starting lineup for the decisive clash against France.

Haaland's red-hot form

Haaland, who has been named among the substitutes, has been in sensational form at the tournament, scoring braces in both of Norway's previous matches against Iraq and Senegal.

His four-goal tally had put him level with France star Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot, with only Argentina captain Lionel Messi ahead of them on five goals.

With Haaland starting on the bench, 26-year-old Jørgen Strand Larsen has been handed the responsibility of leading Norway's attack against Les Bleus.

What's at stake in the decisive clash

Both teams have already secured qualification for the knockout stage, but the stakes remain high in this group-deciding encounter.

A win for either side would see them advance to the Round of 32 as Group I winners, earning a potentially more favorable matchup against one of the tournament's best third-placed teams from another group.

Defeat, however, would leave the team finishing second in the group. The Group I runners-up are set to face Group E runners-up Côte d'Ivoire in the Round of 32, making top spot a valuable prize heading into the knockout rounds.