France's Kylian Mbappe with teammates during a training session. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

France ​will be aiming to secure top spot in its World ⁠Cup Group I on Friday when it takes on equally in-form Norway to avoid having to travel far from its base in Boston for its next matches, assistant coach ‌Guy Stephan said.

France and Norway have qualified for the knockout stage after winning their first two games. France needs only a ‌draw to finish top thanks to its superior goal difference.

Speaking ⁠on Thursday in place of the team’s World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps, who has returned to France for his mother’s funeral, Stephan said central defender William Saliba would be missing against Norway ​and striker Marcus Thuram was ‌suffering with calf pain.

“Didier wants to finish top, as the whole group does, because it would be completely different logistically,” Stephan said. “The travel times to different cities would be a lot longer if we finish second. And ‌there’s the issue of the temperatures too. First place is best.”

LONG ​JOURNEYS

Topping the group would mean the 2018 champions would be able to stay in Northeastern United States until the quarter-finals ⁠while the team that finishes second faces the prospect of travelling long distances to Dallas, Miami and Atlanta.

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Stephan, who was hired by Deschamps as his assistant ‌at Ligue 1 club Marseille in 2009 and went with him to the France national team three years later, said he expected little contact with his boss on Friday, the day of the funeral. Stephan said Deschamps was set to return to Boston late on Friday or early on Saturday.

France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said the absence of Deschamps was being felt by the ‌squad. “It’s a tough moment for everyone, the coach but also for us,” the Real Madrid player ​said.

“We’ve tried to make things as normal as possible even if the situation is not normal. He gave us a mission ⁠and our main objective will be to make him as proud as possible.”

Depending ⁠on whether France and Norway decide to rest players, Friday’s game could feature two contenders for the World Cup’s Golden Boot top-scoring award, ‌France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland who both have four goals in two games, one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi. “Haaland? He can score at ​any time,” Tchouameni said. “Any moments when we don’t concentrate could cost us dearly.”

Published on Jun 26, 2026