World Cup 2026 / France - Norway: Dayot Upamecano reveals his plan to stop Haaland

26.06.26 FT World Cup

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On the eve of the showdown against Norway, Dayot Upamecano shared a detailed analysis of Erling Haaland in L'Équipe. The French defender already has a strategy to neutralize the Scandinavian giant.

Erling Haaland, a goal-scoring machine and defenders’ nightmare around the globe, is set to cross paths with Dayot Upamecano this Friday in the France vs Norway clash, the final match of Group I. In an interview with L'Équipe, the Bayern Munich center-back delivered a surgical breakdown of the Norwegian colossus, revealing clear respect for his upcoming opponent.

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"With Haaland, you always have to keep one eye on him and one eye on the player with the ball. We all know he’s a player who accelerates rapidly off his first steps, a bit like Kylian. He only needs a split second to change direction," the French defensive rock explained.

"With him, it’s always a real battle," he added.

However, Upamecano is not just bracing himself—he’s already outlined his plan: force Haaland wide, cut off his angles, and double up on throw-ins. This looming clash between titans promises to be one of the most captivating subplots of this third group stage matchday.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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