Dembélé hat-trick sinks Norway reserves as France cruise into World Cup last 32 top of Group I
Ousmane Dembélé scored three times in the opening 32 minutes as France beat a heavily rotated Norway 4-1 in Boston to win Group I and advance to the World Cup knockout stage.
The match Norway conceded
Ståle Solbakken named ten changes from the side that beat Senegal, leaving Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Alexander Sørloth on the bench. A contest billed as Mbappé against Haaland never materialised. Solbakken was clear about his reasons.
We must not be naive about what is needed in the knockout stage. We need to be rested physically and mentally. This match is important, but the round of 32 is the most important.
Dembélé’s first-half blitz
Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring in the 7th minute after Kylian Mbappé picked him out, cut inside and fired past Egil Selvik. The pair combined again in the 20th minute, Dembélé curling a left-footed shot into the net. He completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute with another strike from outside the box.
- 7 min: Dembélé opens the scoring (assist Mbappé)
- 20 min: Dembélé makes it 0-2 (assist Mbappé)
- 21 min: Aasgaard pulls one back for Norway
- 32 min: Dembélé completes hat-trick (assist Mbappé)
- 50 min: Larsen penalty saved by Maignan
- 90+4 min: Doué heads fourth for France
Norway’s brief reply
Thelo Aasgaard reduced the deficit a minute after Dembélé’s second goal, weaving past defenders to beat Mike Maignan. Jørgen Strand Larsen had a chance to make it 3-2 from the penalty spot early in the second half, but Maignan guessed correctly and saved. Désiré Doué headed a fourth for France deep in stoppage time.
Deschamps absent on a difficult night
France head coach Didier Deschamps missed the game following the death of his mother, with assistant Guy Stephan taking charge. The team’s 18 attempts underlined a commanding performance that kept their perfect group-stage record intact.
What the result means
France finish top of Group I and will face a third-placed side in the round of 32. Norway, already through, take second place and meet Ivory Coast. Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 and must wait to learn whether they advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
