France eyes top spot in Group I against Norway's reserve team in World Cup qualifier

France's national football team, known as "Les Bleus," is set to face a significantly altered Norwegian squad in their final Group I match, with the aim of securing first place. Kylian Mbappé, who has already scored four goals in the tournament, will be looking to improve his impressive tally. The match is scheduled to take place in Boston.

However, the French team will be without their head coach, Didier Deschamps, who has returned to France following the death of his mother. While FIFA has offered condolences and approved a moment of silence before the match to honor victims of a recent earthquake in Venezuela, it denied a request for the French players to wear black armbands during the game in tribute to Deschamps' mother.

Norway's lineup shows a complete overhaul, with ten changes from their previous match. Key players like Erling Haaland, Alexander Sörloth, and Martin Ødegaard have been placed on the bench. The team will rely on goalkeeper Selvik and an offensive trio of Bobb, Strand Larsen, and Schjerlderup. France, on the other hand, will field a strong lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mbappé leading the attack. Theo Hernandez and Doué return to the left flank, while Tchouaméni is preferred in midfield over Rabiot. Lacroix will make his World Cup debut, replacing Saliba due to a back issue.

Both teams have already qualified for the knockout stage, having secured two wins each. France holds a slight advantage in the group standings due to a superior goal difference (+5 compared to Norway's +4), meaning a draw would be sufficient for them to finish at the top. The match will be played at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston.