BOSTON: Ousmane Dembele’s sensational hat-trick in the opening 32 minutes sealed a 4-1 win for France over a second-string Norway side in Group I clash at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The chances of an epic showdown between both teams were quashed when Norway manager Stale Solbakken decided to make 10 changes, leaving out star striker Erling Haaland.
Les Bleus marched on right from the onset as Ballon d’Or winner Dembele scored in the seventh minute of the game, followed by goals in the 20th and 32nd minutes. Desire Doue capped off a brilliant day for France with a lobbed header in the 94th minute.
Dembele capitalized on an assist from Mbappe and made a run into open space on the right and sent it past Egil Selvik to score his second goal of the tournament. In the 20th minute, the PSG forward ran inward from the right side and sent one through the far right corner with a beautiful, curved shot.
However, Norway fought back with midfielder Thelo Aasgaard providing his side some relief. The Rangers attacker seized the opportunity to take on the lazy French defense, attacked from the kick-off, and sent a low-range shot past the wrong-footed Mike Maignan.
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But it was Dembele’s day, as he again used his left foot brilliantly from the area despite being surrounded by four Norwegian defenders, and sent it into the right corner. The 29-year-old recorded the second-quickest hat-trick after Austria’s Erich Probst, who scored in 24 minutes in 1954.
At the end of the first half, Kylian Mbappe’s side were way ahead in the game.
Norway missed a golden opportunity at the start of the second half when Strand Larsen completely missed a penalty from the spot.
Fulham winger Oscar Bobb was tripped by defender Theo Hernandez inside the penalty box, and The Vikings were awarded a penalty kick, but Strand Larsen kicked it poorly, and Mike Maignan saved it easily.
After scoring a hat-trick, Ousmane Dembele was substituted just before the hydration break in the 65th minute.
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In the dying moments of the match, it was all possession play for both teams. Ultimately, Desire Doue finished the match in style with a header in the 94th minute to make it a resounding victory.
With this win, France finished as Group I toppers and will face a third-placed team on Tuesday, 30 June, in New Jersey, while Norway will play Ivory Coast in Dallas earlier the same day.
In another Group I clash, Senegal thrashed 10-man Iraq by a hefty 5-0 margin to keep themselves in the race to reach the last 32.
The Lions of Teranga completed the group stage fixture in third place with three points and are in fifth place among third-placed teams. Despite the win, they will still need results elsewhere to go their way to secure a place in the last 32.
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