Ousmane Dembélé scored a beautifully precise 25-minute hat-trick as France dismantled a second-string Norway 4-1 in Boston to seal top spot in Group I at the World Cup. The result means France will play their last-32 tie in New Jersey next Tuesday, while Norway face Côte d'Ivoire in Texas.
Dembélé's clinical display
Dembélé opened the scoring after six minutes, cutting inside from the right and firing into the far corner after a superb diagonal pass from Kylian Mbappé. He doubled the lead on 20 minutes with a similar move, this time shooting low and hard into the same corner. Norway briefly levelled through Thelo Aasgaard, but Dembélé restored France's two-goal advantage on 32 minutes with another curling effort into the far corner.
"It was a special night for me," Dembélé said after the match. "The team played well, and I was able to finish the chances they created."
Norway's rotation gamble backfires
Norway coach Stale Solbakken rotated 10 players, resting star striker Erling Haaland among others. The decision left Norway's defence exposed, with France registering 10 goals in the group stage. "We wanted to give key players a rest, but it didn't work out," Solbakken admitted. "France punished our mistakes."
Norway had a chance to equalise early in the second half when Oscar Bobb won a penalty, but Jørgen Strand Larsen's spot-kick was saved by Mike Maignan. Désiré Doué headed a fourth for France late on from Bradley Barcola's cross.
Group I implications
France top the group with maximum points, while Norway finish second. The result sets up a potentially easier path for France in the knockout stages, while Norway face a tougher route with possible opponents including Côte d'Ivoire, Brazil, England and Argentina.
"We didn't take our chances," Solbakken said. "We need to learn from this and move on." France's attack, led by Mbappé and Dembélé, continues to impress, with the team scoring freely in the tournament.
