Norway vs Iraq

On paper this is a collision between Europe's most potent attacking force and Asia's most resilient tournament outfit, and the numbers make grim reading for Iraq. Norway swept through UEFA qualifying with Erling Haaland scoring at a rate that borders on the absurd, and Martin Ødegaard's rediscovered authority at Arsenal has translated seamlessly into the national team's build-up play. Ståle Solbakken's system is built around getting the ball into Haaland's orbit early and often, with overlapping fullbacks and Ødegaard's threaded passes supplying the kind of service the Manchester City striker devours.

Iraq, by contrast, arrived via the AFC qualifying maze — a route that demanded patience, tactical discipline, and repeated acts of escapology. Jesus Casas has instilled a compact 4-2-3-1 that concedes territory willingly, defending the edges of the box with two banks of four before springing out through Aymen Hussain's hold-up play and the dribbling ambition of Amir Ammari. The gulf in individual quality here is stark.

Iraq's best chance lies in making the game ugly, slowing the tempo, frustrating Haaland's supply lines, and forcing Norway into the kind of impatient shots that waste possession. If Ødegaard is allowed to dictate rhythm in the half-spaces, this becomes a long evening for the Iraqi back line.