Iraq seeks to keep group-stage hopes alive against France after Norway loss

Iraq's national football team faces France in its second group-stage match of the tournament, looking to pick up points after a defeat to Norway in the opening game. The team is aiming to preserve its chances of advancing before the final round of group play. Analysts said Iraq's first-half performance against Norway, built on a disciplined defensive structure, pushed the European side. Fast counterattacks, midfield balance and a high work rate were cited as the positives from the opening match. Iraq's weaknesses, the analysts said, included individual defensive errors, lapses in concentration and missed chances in attack. Sustaining the first-half showing from the Norway game and tightening at the back are seen as central to the team's prospects. Norway faces Senegal in the other Group A fixture, and those results will shape Iraq's path out of the group. No further details on Iraq's lineup or France's squad were immediately available.