Dugout Discussion
26 June 2026 173 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.

173 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    3 hours, 32 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
      3 hours, 30 mins ago

      To win?
      South Africa
      Brazil
      Netherlands
      Ivory Coast
      US

      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 hours, 29 mins ago

        Could be Norway if Haaland plays.

        1. Travel Notes
          • 3 Years
          3 hours, 28 mins ago

          He could play and not score.

  2. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    3 hours, 29 mins ago

    Switch captain from Mbappe to Salah?

    1. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      I wouldn't

      1. Travel Notes
        • 3 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        Messi to follow if it doesn't work out.

        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          3 hours, 22 mins ago

          He'll get 45-60 minutes.

          Leaning towards 45.

          1. CoracAld2831
            • 5 Years
            3 hours, 21 mins ago

            Up to you though.

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

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      I'd rather take the points.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        In other words, i'd stick.

    3. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 hours, 23 mins ago

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

    4. MOTHRA
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      Absolutely

  3. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 24 mins ago

    Oooh Kevin De Bruyne!

  4. TafOnTour1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    3 hours, 20 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
    3 hours, 18 mins ago

    Is Yamine likely to start?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 9 mins ago

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

  6. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 14 mins ago

    Scotland not out yet…

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        3 hours, 3 mins ago

        "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"

        1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
          • 11 Years
          2 hours, 44 mins ago

          Yeah that group L isn’t happening

          Even if Austria and Algeria play honest

  7. JohnnyB10
    • 1 Year
    3 hours, 2 mins ago

    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!

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 59 mins ago

      Obviously stick.

      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        2 hours, 54 mins ago

        Cheers! Yeah, I’ll stick.

    2. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 46 mins ago

      I’d say
      Wait for team news
      Kane starts
      Put it in him
      Didn’t they wallop panama last wc?

      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        2 hours, 14 mins ago

        In order to beat 13p, Kane must score 2 goals + assist, or 3 goals, and even then the difference is very small.

        Kane has 15, as a captain that’s 30+13=43. Sarr 26+15=41.

        I’ve done the math last round with Vini and stick to his 24p, not switching to Mbappe.

        Kane needs a hat trick ( plus shots on target=18-19 points ) and even in that case you lose only 5-6 points max. 36+13=49 / 26+18=44.

        Cheers 🙂

  8. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 51 mins ago

    Stick Mbappe or move to zico

    Messi last shot

    1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 48 mins ago

      If you’re gonna go Messi you may as well throw it on zico next

    2. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 47 mins ago

      Assuming you mean captain

      If you mean sub….. don’t be mad

  9. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 49 mins ago

    So ive one captain call left
    Woshnid went Vini over Bouaddi
    But hey

    Who would you whack the band on?

    A - De Bruyne
    B - Courtois
    C - Salah

    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 hours, 4 mins ago

      I’d put it on Salah.

  10. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 8 mins ago

    Yamal starts.

  11. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 6 mins ago

    Sarr possibly better than Mane now, mad times

  12. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 4 mins ago

    Swear Diarra been around since early noughties, crazy longevity! Remember him at Lyon

  13. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 hours ago

    Sarr to Lamine captaincy switch. Yes or No?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 58 mins ago

      Have Salah, Trossard, De Cuyper, Otamendi as well

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        1 hour, 57 mins ago

        And Pickford of course

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 52 mins ago

      No, stick.

  14. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 56 mins ago

    Uruguay:
    Fernando Muslera, Sebastián Cáceres, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Guillermo Varela, Mathías Olivera, Agustín Canobbio, Maxi Araújo, Manuel Ugarte, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Darwin Núñez
    Subs: Brian Rodríguez, José María Giménez, Rodrigo Aguirre, Ronald Araujo, Santiago Mele, Matías Viña, Santiago Bueno, Nicolás de la Cruz, Joaquín Piquerez, Emiliano Martínez, Sergio Rochet, Rodrigo Zalazar, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Facundo Pellistri, Federico Viñas

    Spain:
    Unai Simón, Marcos Llorente, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Rodri, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena
    Gavi, Dani Olmo, Marc Pubill, Martín Zubimendi, Joan García, Nico Williams, Borja Iglesias, Fabián Ruiz, David Raya, Ferran Torres, Pedro Porro, Yéremy Pino, Víctor Muñoz, Eric García, Alejandro Grimaldo

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 55 mins ago

      Spain first row is starters, second row is subs.

  15. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 53 mins ago

    Cabo Verde
    Vozinha; João Paulo, Pico Lopes, Diney Borges, Wagner Pina; Kevin Pina; Ryan Mendes, Jamiro Monteiro, Deroy Duarte, Willy Semedo; Dailon Livramento.

    Subs: Laros Duarte, Márcio Rosa, Stopira, Jovane Cabral, Gilson Benchimol, Yannick Semedo, Garry Rodrigues, Steven Moreira, CJ dos Santos, Hélio Varela, Logan Costa, Nuno da Costa, Kelvin Pires.

    Saudi Arabia
    Mohammed Al Owais; Saud Abdulhamid, Abdulelah Al Amri, Hassan Al Tambakti, Nawaf Bu Washl; Sultan Mandash, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Nasser Al Dawsari, Salem Al Dawsari; Mohamed Kanno, Feras Al Brikan

    Subs: Ali Majrashi, Khalid Al Ghannam, Abdullah Al Hamddan, Nawaf Al Aqidi, Moteb Al Harbi, Aiman Yahya, Ziyad Al Johani, Mohammed Abu Al Shamat, Jehad Thikri, Saleh Al Shehri, Alaa Al Hejji, Musab Al Juwayr, Ahmed Al Kassar, Hassan Kadish, Ali Lajami

  16. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 hour, 46 mins ago

    Stick with Mbappe captain or switch?

    Have De Cuyper and Kane left

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 45 mins ago

      Stick.

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 hour, 20 mins ago

      Switch for me. De Cuyper probably gets 9 and any return and he becomes a stick.

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 18 mins ago

        Is he nailed though? Can barely get in the Brighton team let alone Belgium

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 hour ago

          He's better than Castagne.

  17. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 hour, 16 mins ago

    Captain KDB or De Cuyper?

    1. MOTHRA
      • 10 Years
      26 mins ago

      Kdb

  18. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    just now

    Muslera doing a Muslera.. how has he not been dropped? 3 stinkers in a row