Dugout Discussion
26 June 2026 143 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Friday night brings the final round of Group I encounters, where Norway and France are meeting in Boston to decide top spot.

Meanwhile, the winner of Senegal v Iraq in Toronto will have a chance of third-place progression.

Both matches get underway at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

By making 10 changes to his starting lineup, head coach Stale Solbakken is hinting that he doesn’t think the match is winnable.

Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are rested in this overhaul, as only Fredrik Aursnes keeps his place. Julian Ryerson is on the bench, too.

Opponents France bring in Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernandez, Aurelien Tchouameni and Desire Doue for William Saliba, Lucas Digne, Adrien Rabiot and Bradley Barcola.

Elsewhere, there are five Senegal switches. Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Pape Gueye and Nicolas Jackson step aside for Mory Diaw, Abdoulaye Seck, Ismail Jakobs, Habib Diarra and Ibrahim Mbaye.

As for Iraq, Hussein Ali, Aymen Hussein, Zaid Tahseen and Zaid Ismael are on the bench. In come Ali Al Hamadi, Frans Putros, Ali Jasim and Rebin Sulaka.


LINE-UPS

Norway XI: Selvik; Aursnes, Ostigard, Falchener, Bjorkan; Thorsvtedt, Berg, Aasgaard; Bobb, Stand Larsen, Schjelderup

Subs: Nyland, Tangvik, Moller Wolfe, Ajer, Langas, Heggem, Ryerson, Holmgren Pedersen, Odegaard, Thorsby, Berge, Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa, Hauge

France XI: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Koné; Doué, Olise, Dembélé; Mbappé

Subs: Samba, Risser, Konate, Digne, L Hernandez, Gusto, Saliba, Rabiot, Kante, Cherki, Zaire-Emery, Barcola, Mateta, Akliouche, Thuram


Senegal XI: Diaw; Diatta, Seck, Niakhate, Jakobs; I Gueye, H Diarra; I Sarr, L Camara, Mane; Mbaye

Subs: Y Diouf, A Mendy, Koulibaly, E Diouf, M Sarr, I Ndiaye, P Gueye, P Sarr, Ciss, Diao, Dieng, C Ndiaye, B Ndiaye, Jackson

Iraq XI: Basil; Putros, Sulaka, Hashim, Doski; Jasim, Al Ammari, Iqbal; Qasem, Al Hamadi, Bayesh

Subs: Talib, Hassan, Maknzi, H Ali, Younis, Saadoun, Tahseen, Sher, Yakob, Ismael, Yousif, Hussein, Farji, M Ali, Amyn


FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

143 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    29 mins ago

    Confirmed Round of 32 matches so far:

    South Africa v Canada
    Brazil v Japan
    Netherlands v Morocco
    Ivory Coast v Norway
    United States v Bosnia & Herzegovina

    11 more to be confirmed.

    1. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 mins ago

      To win?
      South Africa
      Brazil
      Netherlands
      Ivory Coast
      US

      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 mins ago

        Could be Norway if Haaland plays.

        1. Travel Notes
          • 3 Years
          2 mins ago

          He could play and not score.

  2. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    27 mins ago

    Switch captain from Mbappe to Salah?

    1. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      12 mins ago

      I wouldn't

      1. Travel Notes
        • 3 Years
        10 mins ago

        Messi to follow if it doesn't work out.

        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          6 mins ago

          He'll get 45-60 minutes.

          Leaning towards 45.

          1. CoracAld2831
            • 5 Years
            4 mins ago

            Up to you though.

            If he starts Jordan, it is going to be agony to watch the match.

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      11 mins ago

      I'd rather take the points.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 min ago

        In other words, i'd stick.

    3. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 mins ago

      I would. Only a game to give yourself some more excitement! Mbappe didn't exactly haul with a 9 pointer

  3. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    22 mins ago

    Oooh Kevin De Bruyne!

  4. TafOnTour1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    18 mins ago

    I have the captaincy on Mbappe, do I stick or twist to Lamine Yamal, guys?!

  5. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    16 mins ago

    Is Yamine likely to start?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 min ago

      He probably starts, but won't play full 90 apparently.

  6. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    12 mins ago

    Scotland not out yet…

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        just now

        "In order to finish eighth, Scotland would need four of the below scenarios to play out in the groups which have games remaining:

        Group G - Iran lose to Egypt, and Belgium at least draw with New Zealand
        Group H - Uruguay lose to Spain, and Cabo Verde at least draw with Saudi Arabia
        Group J - Algeria lose by two goals to Austria, and Jordan do not beat Argentina
        Group K - DR Congo draw with Uzbekistan, or Uzbekistan beat DR Congo by three goals or fewer
        Group L - Croatia lose by three goals or more to Ghana"

  7. JohnnyB10
    • 1 Year
    just now

    Glad I got Sarr to fill in that fw spot! Stick to him as a captain? Got Yamal, Salah and Kane left. Kane is tempting but 26 points from Sarr, I’ll take it!