Mbappe v Haaland as France face Norway in World Cup group decider

Norway's Erling Haaland and France's Kylian Mbappe go head-to-head in a crucial World Cup Group I decider (Mattia Ozbot)A mouthwatering duel between in-form goalscorers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will take centre stage at the World Cup on Friday as France face Norway in a crucial Group I decider.

>Real Madrid star Mbappe and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in blistering form, neck-and-neck on four goals apiece in the race for the Golden Boot, just behind leader Lionel Messi on five.

>On Friday the two forwards will meet in a heavyweight collision at Foxborough, outside Boston at 3:00 pm local time (2000 GMT), with top spot in the group up for grabs.

>France, who looked majestic in swatting aside Senegal and Iraq, hold a slight advantage, with their superior goal difference meaning Les Bleus need only a draw to clinch first place in the group.

>But the Norwegians have been equally impressive, routing Iraq 4-1 in their opener before beating Senegal 3-2 on Monday.

>Haaland, playing in his first World Cup, has revelled in the global spotlight, playing with a swashbuckling gusto that could well ask hard questions of even France's experienced defence.

>The 25-year-old has also embraced the tournament off the pitch, delighted at his ability to go sightseeing in New York City in relative anonymity.

>After clinching a place in the last 32 with the win over Senegal, Haaland insisted he was nonplussed at the prospect of facing France -- who he regards as favourites for the tournament -- and laughed off suggestions that Norway were title contenders.

>"To win the World Cup, absolutely not," he told Fox television.

>"We've won 12 competitive games in a row now. I'm part of something special, making history, and I'm extremely proud to be Norwegian," adding that he "couldn't care" about playing France.

>"They're probably going to win against us, they're probably going to win the whole tournament," he said.

>- Deschamps blow -

>France and Mbappe's preparations for the game have been disrupted by the departure of manager Didier Deschamps from the team's camp this week following the death of his mother.

>Assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the team until Deschamps returns.

>"I am thinking a lot about Didier and his family," Stephan said. "I am just trying to make a difficult situation as normal as possible."

>France though will be eager to avoid a slip-up, knowing that finishing second in the group gives them a potentially more hazardous path to the July 19 final.

>A defeat would set up a last 32 clash with Ivory Coast, before a potential meeting with Brazil in the last 16. England could potentially lie in wait in the quarter-finals, with Argentina seeded to be their opponents in the semi-final.

>In other games on Friday, Spain will aim to clinch top spot in Group H with a potentially awkward clash with Uruguay in Guadalajara, Mexico.

>The Uruguayans will need to take at least a point from the fixture to have a chance of progressing to the last 32 after being held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Cape Verde in their second game.

>Spain will clinch first place in the group with a draw.

>Minnows Cape Verde meanwhile will attempt to continue their fairytale campaign with a victory over Saudi Arabia.

>In Group G, Egypt will attempt to clinch top spot with victory over Iran in Seattle in a game that has been laced with controversy.

>Friday's game is part of city-wide events to celebrate Pride in Seattle, and was designated as the "Pride Match" by local officials before the identities of the teams involved was known.

>Iranian and Egyptian officials have both raised objections to the Seattle Pride celebrations around their fixture.

>Homosexuality is illegal in Iran under Islamic law and can be punishable by death. In Egypt, homosexuality is often penalized under vaguely worded laws prohibiting "debauchery."

>In the other Group G game, Belgium's ageing squad featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will attempt to reach the knockout rounds with a victory over New Zealand.

>rcw/gj