Saliba and Odegaard Shine as France and Norway Advance

William Saliba and Martin Odegaard both punched their tickets to the World Cup knockout stages on a night of wild weather, heavy drama and ruthless finishing.

Saliba flawless as France cruise in the rain

In Philadelphia, the rain came down in sheets and refused to let up. It didn’t bother France. It certainly didn’t bother Saliba.

The centre-back played the full 90 minutes of a commanding 3-0 win over Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium, turning in the kind of performance that quietly wins tournaments. Seven defensive interventions, barely a foot wrong, and a metronomic 95% pass accuracy as France controlled the game in treacherous conditions.

Up front, Kylian Mbappe did what Kylian Mbappe does. He snapped the contest open in the 14th minute, firing France into an early lead and instantly settling any nerves.

Then the storm truly hit. A two-hour half-time delay as the weather turned ugly and the pitch soaked under the floodlights. When play finally resumed, France re-emerged with the same clarity and purpose.

Lightning struck twice on the scoreboard. Nine minutes into the second half, Mbappe added his second, killing off any Iraqi resistance. Ousmane Dembele then stepped in to twist the knife, making it 3-0 and turning the closing stages into a procession.

France now sit top of Group I with six points from two games, edging Norway only on goal difference. The margins are fine. Their authority is not.

Odegaard pulls the strings as Norway edge five-goal thriller

While France were ruthless, Norway were breathless.

In their 3-2 victory over Senegal, Norway led, wobbled and finally surged into the last 32, with Odegaard at the heart of it all.

Marcus Pederson put the Norwegians in front before the break, a first-half lead that felt fragile against Senegal’s pace and power. The next goal would shape everything.

Odegaard made sure it went Norway’s way. Early in the second half, the captain sliced Senegal open with an incisive through ball, threading Erling Haaland into space for 2-0. One pass, one chance, one finish. Classic Norway under their talismanic playmaker.

Senegal refused to fold. Ismaila Sarr dragged them back into the contest, pulling one back to crank up the tension. The game opened up, stretched from end to end, the kind of contest where one mistake or one moment of brilliance decides it.

Haaland found the net again. So did Sarr. The two forwards traded blows in a frantic second half, but Norway clung to their advantage and saw the job through to reach the last 32.

At full-time, the release was visible. Odegaard and his teammates broke into a jubilant Norwegian viking row celebration, a unified roar that told its own story of a group that believes it belongs on this stage.

England’s stars step into the spotlight

Attention now turns to Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions, who face Ghana in a 9pm kick-off with their own ambitions of momentum and control.

Declan Rice anchors the midfield. Noni Madueke brings directness and edge. Bukayo Saka offers invention and end product. Eberechi Eze adds flair between the lines. All four are chasing back-to-back wins, and the chance to match the early statement laid down by Saliba’s France and Odegaard’s Norway.

Two club leaders are already safely through. Tonight will show whether England’s core can follow their lead.