Ousmane Dembélé delivered an early hat-trick, leading France to a 4-1 victory against Norway. This win allowed France to conclude the group stage with a maximum of nine points, securing their position as Group I winners in the World Cup 2026. The match took place at Boston Stadium.
Dembélé, a forward for Paris Saint-Germain, initiated the scoring in the seventh minute. He followed up with another goal in the 20th minute. After Thelo Aasgaard scored for Norway, Dembélé completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute, making the score 3-1. His performance in this match brings his tournament total to four goals, having also scored in France’s 3-0 win against Iraq.
The only other player to achieve a hat-trick earlier in a World Cup match was Erich Probst, who scored three goals within the first 24 minutes for Austria in 1954. Dembélé’s hat-trick places him in a select group of French players who have achieved this feat in the tournament, including Just Fontaine and Kylian Mbappé.
France’s Dominance and Squad Changes
Désiré Doué sealed the victory for France with a late goal. The team has scored 10 goals across three matches in the group stage. France will remain in the northeastern United States for their last-32 tie, scheduled for next Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they will face a third-place finisher.
The match was played without France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, who returned to France for his mother’s funeral. Assistant coach Guy Stephan expressed the team’s thoughts were with Deschamps, who is expected to rejoin the squad on Saturday. Deschamps is set to step down at the end of the World Cup after 14 years in charge.
For Norway, coach Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting lineup. Key players such as Erling Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard, and striker Alexander Sorloth were rested. Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes was the only player retained from the previous match. Norway secured their progression to the next round before this game, having won against Iraq and Senegal.
Norway will advance in second place from Group I with six points. They are scheduled to play against Ivory Coast in Dallas next Tuesday. During the match, Jorgen Strand Larsen had a penalty saved by France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan after Oscar Bobb was fouled in the area.
Individual Performances and Team Strategy
France also saw some changes to their squad. Defender William Saliba was rested due to a sore back, with Maxence Lacroix stepping in. Doué, Theo Hernandez, and Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to the lineup. Both Dembélé and Mbappé retained their places, with Mbappé earning his 101st cap.
Dembélé’s first goal came after Mbappé released him, allowing him to cut in from the right and fire past goalkeeper Egil Selvik. His second goal was a low shot curled into the far corner. After Aasgaard’s goal for Norway, Dembélé once again curled a shot into the same bottom corner from inside the area to complete his hat-trick.
Dembélé, who was part of the France team that won the 2018 World Cup, has seen a transformation in his role under his PSG coach, Luis Enrique, moving from the wing to a central position. This tactical adjustment appears to have contributed to his recent form, including his achievement of winning the Ballon d’Or.
France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan commented on the team’s performance, stating they achieved their objectives for the game. He noted the enjoyment and intensity in their play, along with numerous chances created, while also acknowledging areas for improvement.
In another Group I match, Senegal defeated 10-man Iraq 5-0. Pape Gueye scored two goals, and Ismaila Sarr added his third goal of the tournament. Habib Diarra opened the scoring, and Iliman Ndiaye concluded it with a long-range effort. Senegal finished third in their group and are competing for one of the eight third-place spots in the round of 32.
Iraq was eliminated from their second World Cup, their first appearance since 1986.
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Source: aljazeera.com
