Key events<\/p>\n
33 min To be fair to Diatta and Sarr, both teams have come out of the hydration break playing a bit more sloppily than before. Norway<\/a> seem eager to reassert themselves as the match\u2019s protagonist after largely ceding momentum to Senegal, though they\u2019re struggling to sustain possession beyond their own half in recent minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 min Senegal seem determined to establish its right flank to open up some space for Sadio Man\u00e9 across the pitch, but Kr\u00e9pin Diatta and Ismaila Sarr are struggling to connect often enough to really ramp up the pressure on Norway<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28 min Some one-two work at the left corner of Norway\u2019s box between Nicolas Jackson and Sadio Man\u00e9 ends with Jackson skying a shot beyond the far post.<\/p>\n Posture all wrong there, leaning back as he fired, but Senegal have generally done well to establish themselves in the match after Norway\u2019s opening four-pack of corners.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min As play resumes, Julian Ryerson appears to be icing his right quad, so his status will be closely monitored like any leg muscle injury.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 23 min \u2013 Everybody take some sips, it\u2019s hydration time!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 min Senegal is doing well to limit Norway\u2019s passing lanes toward Erling Haaland, who has just two touches in the opening 21 minutes.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi followed his opening hat-trick with a brace, while Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 scored on both sides of the weather delay for a second brace in as many games. We could be in for an all-timer of a Golden Boot race; will Haaland help his cause today?<\/p>\n Erling Haaland on the move. Photograph: John Angelillo\/UPI\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.28 EDT<\/p>\n 19 min Early stages, to be sure, but an emerging pattern where Norway<\/a> are owning the central zones and half-spaces while Senegal are thriving along the flanks. Senegal has turned down some right-sided advancement in their past two sequences, though, seeming to want to establish the central route as a viable option.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min Senegal finally get their first corner kick of the contest, which is promptly sent over everyone in the box for a Norway<\/a> throw-in.<\/p>\n Already 14 goals from corner kicks through 40 games at this World Cup<\/a>. Won\u2019t be a surprise if that total increases given Norway\u2019s size and Senegal\u2019s skill.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.21 EDT<\/p>\n 13 min – Norway substitution: Julian Ryerson off early<\/p>\n Marcus Pedersen (Torino) has checked in for Norway<\/a> right-back Julian Ryerson. A tough blow for the Uefa qualifiers, as Ryerson is among the best chance-creating full-backs in Europe.<\/p>\n Pedersen a bit more of a defensive option along the back than the Dortmund defender, though he managed to play a touchline cross to \u00d8degaard at the edge of the box, which the Arsenal midfield promptly sends over the bar. Still, a bit of appreciative applause after some anguished yelping from the Norway captain.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.16 EDT<\/p>\n 12 min Fox commentators Ian Darke and Landon Donovan vouch for the quality of the pitch, with Donovan saying it is adequately slick for an attacker-friendly game.<\/p>\n Norway already looking to their bench and signaling about a potentially necessary early sub\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.14 EDT<\/p>\n 10 min After an errant pass at the edge of the final third by Nusa, Diatta cuts into the channel to draw a foul midway into the Norwegian half.<\/p>\n Senegal unable to find a target with the ensuing free kick, but slowly but surely the reigning Afcon finalist is keeping Norway<\/a> from settling into a rhythm. Still very little involvement from Sadio Man\u00e9 thus far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min Ismaila Sarr fashions the first meaningful chance for Senegal, playing a mid-height cross to Nicolas Jackson inside the six-yard box, only for \u00d8rjan Nyland to make a crucial diving swat to keep the ball from finding its target.<\/p>\n \u00d8rjan Nyland paws away an effort from Nicholas Jackson. Photograph: Dylan Martinez\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.11 EDT<\/p>\n 5 min It looks as though play has finally resumed between France and Iraq after a two-hour delay. You can follow along with Tim de Lisle\u2019s live blog on a second tab!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min A quartet of early corner kicks for Norway<\/a> to start, already 80% of the way to matching their total against Iraq.<\/p>\n The third time was nearly the charm thanks to Kristoffer Ajer\u2019s forehead, but an impressive kick save from \u00c9douard Mendy has kept things level and relieved some pressure for Senegal.<\/p>\n Edouard Mendy makes an early save. Photograph: Justin Setterfield\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.08 EDT<\/p>\n KICK-OFF<\/p>\n 1 min They\u2019re off and trotting in East Rutherford! Plenty to play for between Group I\u2019s teams drawn from Pots 2 and 3.<\/p>\n One fanbase will row their viking ship, the other is bound to keep a lively atmosphere.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So much of what Norway<\/a> do well comes up the heart of the pitch, from \u00d8degaard\u2019s string-pulling to the scoring potential of Haaland and S\u00f8rloth. Keep an eye on their left wing, though, as Antonio Nusa will look to challenge Senegal\u2019s attack-minded right-back Kr\u00e9pin Diatta.<\/p>\n Nusa struggled to dribble through Iraq\u2019s defense at times, largely playing closer to the center line than the opponent\u2019s box, but managed five passes into the final third and was dispossessed only once. His build-up could help disorganize Senegal\u2019s midfield to open more space for \u00d8degaard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is just the second matchup between Norway<\/a> and Senegal, coming just over two decades after the first.<\/p>\n On 1 March 2006, in the build-up to that summer\u2019s World Cup<\/a> in Germany, Senegal bested Norway 2-1 at their national stadium, Stade L\u00e9opold S\u00e9dar Senghor. The goalscorers that day: Moussa N\u2019Diaye, Babacar Gu\u00e8ye, and Erik Hagen.<\/p>\n Here we go! Photograph: Timothy A Clary\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.59 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Weather seems to be just about the only thing that can slow France down in Group I, with their game against Iraq still in a holding pattern with players milling about on the pitch in Philadelphia. All clear in East Rutherford, though, so Norway<\/a> and Senegal will be kicking off shortly.<\/p>\n As with any World Cup<\/a>, the matchups between different confederations have become especially fascinating. For a Senegal side with a point to prove following that chaotic Afcon final, this is a potential statement matchup to win against a Uefa side on the rise. For Norway, the aim continues to be proving that they can progress as a collective rather than being overly reliant on their star men: Erling Haaland \u2013 who bagged a brace in the opener against Iraq \u2013 as well as Martin \u00d8degaard and Alexander S\u00f8rloth.<\/p>\n Norway can advance to the knockouts with a win, while Senegal can neither be eliminated nor advance based on today\u2019s result. Should be a fun one!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jeff will be here shortly, in the mean time here\u2019s Jonathan Wilson on a big tournament for African teams:<\/p>\n On Monday evening local time at New York New Jersey Stadium, Senegal will face Norway in a game that is not only crucial in terms of who qualifies from Group I, but will go a long way in determining how African performance at this World Cup is viewed. This is not entirely fair \u2013 nobody can seriously doubt that Senegal are an extremely adept side, and it may be that the court of arbitration for sport decides that they are indeed the reigning African champions<\/a> \u2013 but there is a sense that Africa could do with a big performance.<\/p>\n