Saliba and Odegaard Shine as France and Norway Reach Knockouts

William Saliba and Martin Odegaard both booked their places in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages on a night of chaos, rain and ruthless finishing.

Saliba flawless as France cruise in the downpour

In Philadelphia, the weather did its best to steal the headlines. It failed.

Saliba played every minute of France’s 3-0 win over Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium, anchoring a back line that barely gave up a breath of space. Across 90 soaked minutes, he produced seven defensive interventions and barely misplaced a pass, finishing with a razor-sharp 95% accuracy.

France struck early. Kylian Mbappe needed just 14 minutes to pierce the Iraqi defence, sweeping his side into a deserved lead before the heavens truly opened.

Then came the absurdity: a two-hour half-time delay as the storm rolled in and refused to move. Players waited. Fans huddled. The pitch glistened under the floodlights and sheets of rain.

When the game finally resumed, Mbappe wasted no time. Nine minutes into the second half he doubled the advantage, the kind of clinical, inevitable finish that has become his trademark. Ousmane Dembele then added a third, underlining France’s control and turning a tricky, weather-warped contest into a statement win.

France sit top of Group I with six points from two games, edging Norway only on goal difference. The job is done early; the standard has been set.

Odegaard pulls the strings as Norway edge five-goal thriller

If France’s win was dominant, Norway’s was breathless.

In their 3-2 victory over Senegal, Norway twice surged clear and twice had to hold their nerve. Marcus Pederson opened the scoring, striking before half-time to give the Norwegians a platform.

After the break, their captain took charge. Martin Odegaard slid an incisive through ball into the path of Erling Haaland, who did what Erling Haaland does. One touch, one finish, 2-0, and Norway looked to be cruising.

Senegal refused to fold. Ismaila Sarr dragged them back into the contest with a reply that shifted the mood and tested Norwegian composure. The game stretched, space opened, and the forwards feasted.

Haaland struck again in the second half to restore the cushion, only for Sarr to respond once more. Norway had to ride out the final stages, but they held firm to secure their place in the last 32, matching France on six points and keeping the group finely poised at the top.

At full-time, Odegaard led the celebrations with a Norwegian viking row routine, players in a line on the turf, miming the pull of imaginary oars. It was loose, loud, and it told its own story: this is a team enjoying the moment and believing there is more to come.

England’s stars step into the spotlight

Attention now turns to Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions, who face Ghana in a 9pm kick-off as they chase back-to-back wins.

Declan Rice will look to dictate from midfield, Bukayo Saka to stretch the game in wide areas, with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze pushing to make their own mark on a World Cup already lit up by club teammates in French blue and Norwegian red.

On a night when Saliba and Odegaard moved quietly and confidently into the knockouts, the stage is set for England’s contingent to answer with a statement of their own.