Rest your best or go strong? Norway face questions as Haaland left out

Norway's national football team made 10 player changes for their match against France on June 5, 2024, notably excluding star striker Erling Haaland. This decision led to a significant 3-0 loss to France. Manager Ståle Solbakken stated that the decision to rest Haaland was made in consultation with the player himself, aiming to manage his workload and prevent potential fatigue or injury. Solbakken emphasized that Haaland had played many games for Manchester City and that the team needed to consider his overall physical condition. The team's performance without Haaland raised questions about the strategy, especially given the heavy defeat. Norway's next match is scheduled for June 8, 2024, against Denmark.