Jamie Carragher on Norway resting Erling Haaland against France:
🗣️ “I cannot believe this decision. You're at a World Cup with the chance to finish top of your group, and your manager is already thinking about the next round. That's not the mentality of a team that believes it can win something.”
“This isn't on Haaland. Every top player wants to play the biggest games. This is entirely on the manager. If you're protecting your best player from France, what message are you sending to the rest of the dressing room?”
“You don't build winning teams by avoiding the biggest challenge. You build them by embracing it. Beat France, finish top of the group, and let everyone know you're serious. Instead, Norway have chosen caution over courage.”
“If I was a Norway player, I'd be asking one question: does the manager actually believe we can beat France? Because resting your biggest star before a game of this magnitude suggests he already knows the answer.”
“World Cups are about creating history, not protecting legs. Fans travel across the world to watch the biggest stars play in the biggest matches, and instead they're being told to wait for the knockout rounds.”
“If Norway lose this game after resting Haaland, the criticism will be deserved. Managers are remembered for brave decisions, not safe ones. This feels like fear dressed up as tactical planning.”