Haaland cheers on Mbappe and lifts teammates despite Norway's 4-1 defeat to France

Erling Haaland played no part in Norway’s 4-1 World Cup group-stage defeat to France in Boston, left out of the starting line-up along with nine other regulars as coach Stale Solbakken prioritised freshness ahead of the knockout rounds. The Manchester City forward did not come on even as Norway chased the game.

The decision carried a particular edge given the context. Haaland and Kylian Mbappe had both scored four goals heading into the match, and with the Golden Boot race wide open, a head-to-head in the final group fixture had promised a compelling subplot. Solbakken ended that contest before kick-off.

Haaland’s reaction, however, gave little away. He was seen joking with club teammate Rayan Cherki during the warm-up, joined the Norway huddle before kick-off, and after the final whistle made his way straight to Mbappe to congratulate him on his performance. Whatever private frustration existed, none of it surfaced publicly.

The stakes for Haaland are arguably higher than for any of his rivals in the Golden Boot race. This is Norway’s first World Cup since 1998 — before Haaland and most of his current teammates were born — and there is no guarantee the country will qualify for the next one. The opportunity to win the tournament’s top-scorer award may not come around again.

Solbakken’s gamble on rotation means Haaland now enters the knockout stage with his goal tally frozen at four, while rivals who played the full group stage may have moved ahead. Whether the decision to protect him pays off will depend on how far Norway progress.

What the evening did reinforce was the leadership role Haaland has grown into at club level, qualities that have been visible on the international stage too. His conduct in Boston — engaged, positive, and generous toward an opponent — reflected the character that has made him central to Manchester City’s dressing room, even on a night when he contributed nothing with the ball.