France and Norway battle for top spot in Group I
Already through to the knockout stage, France and Norway meet in Boston on Friday with first place in Group I still to be decided.
Les Bleus have looked every bit one of the tournament favourites, opening their campaign with successive victories over Senegal and Iraq to move onto six points at the top of the group.
France have carried a constant threat going forward, with Kylian Mbappe taking his tally to four goals in the tournament. Around him, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola have provided the movement and creativity that have made Les Bleus one of the competition's most dangerous attacking sides.
Avoiding defeat will be enough for France to secure top spot and head into the Round of 32 with momentum.
Norway, however, have every reason to believe they can spoil those plans.
Competing at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Stale Solbakken's side have enjoyed an impressive return to the global stage, following up their victory over Iraq with an entertaining 3-2 win over Senegal to book their place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare.
Erling Haaland has led Norway's attacking charge with four goals in two matches, while Martin Odegaard has dictated play from midfield as Solbakken's side have exceeded expectations on their return to the tournament.
Victory would see Norway leapfrog France into first place, capping a remarkable group-stage campaign.
France have enjoyed the better of this fixture historically, winning 10 of the previous 16 meetings between the sides. Norway claimed a 2-1 friendly victory in 2010, but France responded with a 4-0 win when the teams last met in 2014.
Norway are expected to be without Julian Ryerson after the Borussia Dortmund defender was forced off early against Senegal, while Solbakken could also rotate his squad with qualification already secured.
France, meanwhile, are expected to make changes after sealing their place in the knockout rounds. William Saliba has been ruled out, while Marcus Thuram is also a doubt with a calf problem. Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue are among those pushing to start, while Lucas Digne and Manu Kone are also in contention.
Whatever changes are made, Friday's meeting promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the final round of the group stage, with two in-form teams looking to carry momentum into the knockout rounds.
France predicted lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Konate, Digne; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Barcola; Mbappe
Norway predicted lineup:
Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Berge, Aursnes, Odegaard; Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth
