Fans expected to see the Arsenal captain combine with Erling Haaland from the opening whistle. Norway heads into its final Group I clash against France with qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage already secured, but one notable name is missing from the starting lineup. Martin Odegaard is not starting against France, sparking plenty of discussion ahead of one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage. At the same time, fans also expected to see the Arsenal captain combine with Erling Haaland from the opening whistle.
The explanation behind Odegaard’s absence is Norway’s decision to heavily rotate its squad after already qualifying for the Round of 32. According to L’Equipe, Martin Odegaard is among several first-team stars beginning the match on the bench, alongside Erling Haaland.
Solbakken has made as many as 10 changes from the side that defeated Senegal, with Fredrik Aursnes expected to be the only outfield player to retain his place in the starting XI. The reasoning is largely strategic rather than injury-related. Norway has already guaranteed progression, and the coaching staff believes there is little competitive advantage in risking key players simply to finish first in the group.