Norway began the World Cup by beating Iraq 4-1. In their second match, at 6 a.m. Bangladesh time tomorrow, their opponents are Senegal.
A win in this match would secure Norway a place in the knockout round. For Senegal, on the other hand, it is a match to stay alive in the tournament. They lost 3-1 to France in their first match, so to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout round, they have no alternative to a win over Norway. The two sides meet at the MetLife Stadium with two contrasting equations.
In the previous match, Norway’s biggest star, Erling Haaland, delivered a brace. The Manchester City striker will take the field aiming to maintain that consistency against Senegal, and the Norway coach, Stale Solbakken, is building his plan around him. The coach may again opt for a high-pressing style against Senegal, in which case Norway could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Haaland as the lifeblood of the attack.
Senegal, on the other hand, could trouble Norway on the counterattack. The trio of Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy will give Norway’s defence a stern test. Coach Pape Thiaw has been in charge of Senegal since 2024, and under him Senegal also reached the Nations Cup final, though they lost a controversial final. Senegal have come to the World Cup with the confidence of that performance, even though their first match did not go well. Putting that match behind them, they will take the field looking to return to winning ways against Norway. Norway have met Senegal only once before, in a friendly, which Senegal won 2-1.
Who will have the last laugh on the World Cup stage this time is now a matter to be settled on the pitch.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report