Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland set to clash as France take on Norway with World Cup group fate on the line

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“To win the World Cup, absolutely not,” he told Fox television.

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“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.

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“They’re probably going to win against us, they’re probably going to win the whole tournament,” he said.

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– Deschamps blow –

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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.

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

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“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.”

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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.

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A defeat would set up a last 32 clash with the 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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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AFP

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