Norway vs France Prediction: World Cup Betting Tips & Odds

Odds provided by Betista

Norway and France meet at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday morning New Zealand time with top spot in World Cup Group I on the line.

Both teams are through to the Round of 32 with perfect records. France have scored six and conceded one, Norway seven scored and three conceded. In this Norway vs France preview, I look at the dynamics of this group-stage blockbuster.

I’ve been eyeing the BTTS market through the football tips pages this week, and there’s a price I like.

Norway

Norway can’t control this game, but they don’t need to. They’ve got seven goals in two World Cup matches, four of them from Erling Haaland. Martin Odegaard has been pulling strings from deep, and Antonio Nusa’s pace on the wing gives them an outlet on the counter. If Odegaard can slip Haaland past William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano even once, they’ll be in.

Their defence is the concern, of course. Three goals conceded across two games, with their most recent clash against Senegal going from a comfortable 3-1 lead into a nervy 3-2 finish thanks to a late leak.

Team News: Ryerson is expected to miss with the thigh injury he picked up against Senegal. 

Predicted Lineup: Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth.

France

Kylian Mbappe has four goals from two games and is now on 16 career World Cup goals, level with Miroslav Klose. Ousmane Dembele has also scored, getting his first World Cup goal against Iraq. But it’s Michael Olise that has been the catalyst since moving into a central role at half-time against Senegal, with two assists against Iraq confirming how dangerous he is when given space between the lines.

Deschamps could rotate with the knockouts in mind, but first place is too valuable to throw away. I’d expect Mbappe and the back four to start.

Team News: No injury concerns. 

Predicted Lineup: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe.

• Haaland has scored in 12 straight competitive internationals for Norway.
• Norway and France have never met at a World Cup.
• France have conceded just one goal across their two group stage matches.

France should win this. Their defensive structure is a clear step above what Norway have faced so far, and Mbappe against Marcus Holmgren Pedersen at right-back is a mismatch. But Norway need to win for first place, so I don’t think they’ll shut up shop. Haaland will get chances.

I’m tipping France 2-1. If you’re tracking this on NZ betting apps, the goals angle is where I’d focus.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.80

Norway have scored in every game at this tournament and Haaland hasn’t been denied in a competitive international since 2024. France’s only clean sheet came against an Iraq side that barely threatened. 

Norway will throw bodies forward chasing a group-topping result, and this France attack won’t waste the openings that creates.

At $1.80, BTTS is a fair price on the best legal betting sites in New Zealand.