* There will be an anti-Norway plan. We have top-level defenders who have played in very high-level competitions and have had to face strikers of this calibre
* But when you’re up against a player like Erling Haaland, who is very effective, it’s certain that we’ll have to be careful
Maravi Express
Senegal, who lost 1-3 to defending champions France in their opening Group I match, meet Norway tonight from 02h00, kicked off their campaign with a 4-1 victory against Iraq — with two of the goals scored by Manchester City forward, Erling Haaland.
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The 25-year-old scored in the 29th and 43rd minutes to help Norway top the group and when asked how Senegal are prepared to handle Haaland, coach Pape Thiaw responded: “Erling needs no introduction. He’s a great striker, but there won’t be an anti-Haaland plan. There will be an anti-Norway plan.
“We have top-level defenders who have played in very high-level competitions and have had to face strikers of this calibre.
“The objective is to get those points, but when you’re up against a player like Erling Haaland, who is very effective, it’s certain that we’ll have to be careful. But the most important thing remains Norway.”
The Senegal coach Pape Thiaw termed their fixture against Norway ‘a final’ for the Lions of Teranga as an emphasis of the importance of the game: “It’s going to be a tough match, but we’ve prepared well.
“We’ve scouted Norway closely to see their strengths and weaknesses,” Thiaw told reporters ahead of the game as quoted by Wiw Sport. “It’s an important match, a final for us, because we know a negative result could cost us a place in the next round.
“Norway are a very good team, very strong offensively and athletically. But we’ve prepared for this challenge and are determined to get the win.”
“We knew we were in a tough group. Every match is a final. We messed up the first one against France, but we still have two chances. Now we can’t afford any more mistakes.
“Everyone is fit and eager to give their all and make our people proud. The players are ready. The team is ready.”
The defeat against France with Mbape at centre of it
On whether Senegal are ambitious to qualify from the group despite the defeat against France, Thiaw said: “We know we stumbled in the first match. We can’t afford any more mistakes.
“We have to get points to have any chance of qualifying for the round of 32. That will start with this match against Norway, which will be very difficult, just like the previous match against France.
“We’ve reviewed that match thoroughly. We saw our mistakes and we want to correct them. Now, we’re determined for the match, eager to make our fans proud and continue in the competition.”
Thiaw further confirmed Senegal had done more than enough to study Norway, especially their win against Iraq, insisting they have identified their weaknesses and strengths.
“There weren’t any video analysts present, but we followed the match from a wide perspective. That’s also important. And I think nothing escapes notice when you have relevant video analysts to dissect the Norwegian team.
“Having someone in the stadium provides a different view; there wasn’t one for the Norway vs Iraq match, but we did our job well. We identified their weaknesses and their strengths.”
After playing Norway, Senegal will wind up their group matches against Iraq on June 26 at Toronto Stadium as France, who face Iraq from 23h00, will date Norway.—Reporting by Flashscore News; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Czech Republic 1-2 South Africa
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
USA 2-1 Australia
Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curaçao
Germany 2-1 Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Tunisia 0-4 Japan
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
Group G
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Beligium 0-0
New Zealand 1-3
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde
Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
Group I
France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Group J
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Group K
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia
Ghana 1-0 Panama
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