Saliba and Odegaard Shine as France and Norway Advance
The rain didn’t just fall in Philadelphia. It hammered down, turned the pitch slick and the evening chaotic, and even forced a two-hour halt. Through it all, William Saliba never flinched.
The centre-back played every minute of France’s 3-0 win over Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium, a night that lurched from routine to surreal and back again. He finished with seven defensive interventions and a pass accuracy of 95%, the calmest presence on a drenched stage.
France vs. Iraq
France struck early. Kylian Mbappe needed only 14 minutes to break the deadlock, sliding his side in front before the heavens really opened. Then came the long, strange interval as the weather shut the game down and both teams waited, and waited, for the storm to pass.
When the players finally re-emerged, Mbappe wasted no time. Nine minutes into the second half, he doubled the lead, his brace effectively killing off Iraq’s resistance. Ousmane Dembele added a third to seal a victory that felt emphatic on the scoreboard and professional in its execution.
With that, France sit on top of Group I with six points from two games, edging Norway only on goal difference. The margin is fine. The statement is not.
Norway vs. Senegal
If France’s win was controlled, Norway’s was anything but. Their 3-2 triumph over Senegal swung, jolted and crackled from first whistle to last.
Norway led 1-0 at the break thanks to Marcus Pederson, who struck to give them a platform. After half-time, Martin Odegaard took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The captain carved open Senegal with a precise, incisive through ball that split the defence and rolled perfectly into the path of Erling Haaland. One touch, one finish, 2-0. It was the kind of combination that feels inevitable when Odegaard sees the pass and Haaland smells blood.
Senegal refused to fold. Ismaila Sarr pulled one back to drag them into the contest, and the game turned breathless. Haaland hit again. So did Sarr. A duel inside a duel, both forwards refusing to let the other have the final word.
Norway, though, held on. The win sends them into the last 32 and keeps them locked level with France on points, trailing only on goal difference. When the final whistle went, Odegaard and his teammates marked it with a full-blooded Norwegian viking row celebration, a release of tension and a signal that they believe this journey has a long way to run.
Eyes on the Three Lions
Attention now swings to Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions, who face Ghana in a 9pm kick-off as they chase back-to-back wins. Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze all stand on the brink of another chance to shape their World Cup story.
With Saliba and Odegaard already safely through, the stage is set for England’s core to match their stride or be left playing catch-up.
