Norway v Senegal LIVE: Team news as Erling Haaland aims to keep pace in World Cup golden boot race

Norway’s all-black away kit sent a hidden message ahead of the World Cup. According to manufacturers Nike, the all-black look is inspired by “Viking warriors, built to intimidate and channel Norway’s fearless spirit”. That may be true, but a second interpretation is that Norway are dark horses for this World Cup.

This may be their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, but with a striker like Erling Haaland how could Norway not be put in that bracket? With 55 goals in 49 appearances for his country, Haaland averages over a goal a game for Norway, hitting 16 in qualifying alone as they defeated Italy home and away to top their group with eight wins from eight.

It’s not just Haaland, of course. Their captain Martin Odegaard should be fresh after an injury-disrupted season for Arsenal, which can help Norway avoid the fate so often suffered by Poland at recent major international tournaments where they were unable to offer anything other than a superstar striker in Robert Lewandowski. Theirs is a tough group but third place is likely to be good enough. And with Haaland’s goalscoring ability, Norway can be competitive in any game.

The chaos of Rabat is still unresolved but Senegal’s reputation on the pitch remains. A second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years should have crowned Senegal as one of the finest sides the continent has produced but the decision to overturn the result of the final and name Morocco champions ensures there is unfinished business for the Lions of Teranga.

An experienced, settled squad led by the veterans Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye is complemented by the many fresh talents playing at the highest levels of the European game, such as Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Sunderland’s Habib Diarra. The Premier League connection is instructive: last year, Senegal became the first African team to beat England when they won 3-1 at the City Ground in Nottingham, and that famous result should give Pape Thiaw’s side plenty of confidence ahead of decisive clashes against European nations in France and Norway.

Thiaw was handed a five-game ban for leading his Senegal team off the pitch during the carnage of the Africa Cup of Nations final, although that punishment will not apply to World Cup games. Thiaw’s players kept their Afcon winner’s medals and they will enter the tournament with heads held high, believing they are African champions, and hoping for fewer obstacles to overcome.

Flash floods and severe weather could batter New Jersey and New York City on Monday, causing potential chaos ahead of a major World Cup match. ​

Senegal and Norway will face off at NYNJ Stadium on June 22, but experts have warned that rain will begin late in the morning and intensify into the afternoon. According to a message from the New York City Mayor’s Office, the downpour could even continue overnight.

Meanwhile, New York City could also experience severe thunderstorms with isolated wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph. ​

And the big news of the evening so far, as Lionel Messi scored his record-breaking 17th and 18th World Cup goals in a win for Argentina. Sports editor Jack Rathborn was in Dallas to take it all in…

The Texan sunlight beamed through the glass windows of the Dallas Stadium to bring a divine backdrop to Lionel Messi’s latest two-goal masterpiece.

A glorious 17th World Cup goal, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record became his latest act to bolster immortal status back home in Argentina and across the world.

After a first hat-trick on this stage to swat Algeria aside, a typically delightful finish with his left instep sent the world champions on their way to a 2-0 victory over the terrier-like Austria. And a second, his 18th in the tournament’s history, came through brute force in stoppage time to extend this relentless start from the world champions, who top Group J and have a place in the last 32 sewn up.

As for Senegal, there are no new injury worries for the Lions of Teranga either, so we’ll likely see a similar starting line-up to the one that faced France.

As is the case with Norway, the Senegal front three is the heart of the team, led by Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr.

Nevertheless, the likes of Lamine Camara and Iliman Ndiaye mean that there’s plenty of talent throughout this squad.

There are no new injury concerns for Norway after their opening win, so we could well see a similar team to the one that started their opener last week.

Erling Haaland will of course lead the line, with Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa likely to help him in attack.

In midfield, Martin Odegaard remains the key man, with the capable Sander Berge and Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes in support.

And here’s what happened in Senegal’s first outing…

Now Kylian Mbappe has accelerated past Pele. Just Fontaine and Olivier Giroud, too. A record-breaking goal in French history came during a landmark brace in World Cups. More immediately, though, it gave France and Mbappe a winning start. His quest to play in a third World Cup final at just 27 is up and running.

Mbappe’s magnificent double, sandwiching a strike from Bradley Barcola, prevented a repeat of 2002 and rewrote many a record book. Mbappe’s goals were his 57th and 58th goal for his country. He leapfrogged his old partner Giroud, who broke Thierry Henry’s France record at the last World Cup, and knew he was only borrowing it before Mbappe claimed it, presumably to keep for rather longer. Some 14 of them have come in World Cups: Fontaine got 13 in one tournament alone while Pele’s dozen took four. That, too, may be another record Mbappe is destined to hold. Miroslav Klose could lose it in the next few weeks.

Last time out for Norway…

Erling Haaland opened his World Cup account with a brace on his tournament debut as Norway rolled past Iraq 4-1 in Boston.

Norway, appearing in the tournament for the first time in 28 years, took the lead after 29 minutes as Sander Berge played David Moller Wolfe in on the left of the penalty area and his low cross was turned in at the back post by Haaland.

Moments later, the Manchester City striker almost turned provider after latching on to Antonio Nusa’s fine pass and feeding Alexander Sorloth, whose shot was well blocked, with Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard firing wide as Norway continued to dominate.

Tonight’s game is taking place at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (which is the venue that will also host the final on 19th July).

Kick-off is set for 8pm local time, and 1am BST (on Tuesday, 23rd June).

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s World Cup group game between Norway and Senegal in Philadelphia.

Erling Haaland and co. are hoping to make it two wins from two after their opening win over Iraq last week, while Senegal are looking to get their campaign off the ground after losing to France in their opener.

We’ll have all the latest team news and updates right here.