Dembélé hat-trick sends France through as Group I winners with 4-1 victory over Norway

Dembélé opens the scoring early

France took control almost immediately at Gillette Stadium. Kylian Mbappé struck the crossbar inside 30 seconds, and Dembélé opened the scoring in the 7th minute after an Mbappé pass. The Ballon d'Or holder doubled the lead on 20 minutes, again assisted by Mbappé, before Norway briefly responded.

“Dembélé, from the right, entered the area, beat his marker and finished with a right-footed shot to make it 1-0.”

Norway’s brief reply and Dembélé’s third

Thelo Aasgaard pulled one back a minute after the second goal, catching the French defence on a quick break. The equalising hope lasted only eleven minutes. Dembélé completed his hat-trick from outside the box with a left-footed curler in the 32nd minute, becoming the third Frenchman to score a World Cup hat-trick.

Penalty save seals the result

Norway pushed again after the break and won a penalty in the 48th minute when Oscar Bobb was fouled by Theo Hernández. Jørgen Strand Larsen stepped up, but Mike Maignan dived correctly to keep France two goals ahead. Desiré Doué added a fourth in stoppage time with a header from Bradley Barcola’s cross.

“Maignan guessed right and saved. In added time there was also room for Doué's goal, closing in glory a match that launches the champion France.”

Group I standings and knockout paths

With the win France finished Group I on nine points. The squad was missing head coach Didier Deschamps, who had returned to France following the death of his mother. Norway, resting Erling Haaland and most regular starters, ended second and will face Ivory Coast in the round of 32. In the group’s other fixture, Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0 but fell short of an automatic qualifying spot.

Around the other groups

Belgium topped Group G and Spain won Group H. Cape Verde created a surprise by reaching the knockout phase and will meet Argentina on 4 July. Egypt advanced as runners-up in one of the afternoon groups.