Much of the attention before the match centered on Kylian Mbappe and the absent Erling Haaland, but it was Ousmane Dembele who stole the spotlight with a first-half hat trick as France defeated Norway 4-1 in Foxborough. His display also highlighted the remarkable attacking depth available to the French side, with Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue all contributing to another impressive team performance.
Doue added the fourth goal late in the game, ensuring the victory reflected more than one outstanding individual display. France once again demonstrated that opponents cannot focus on a single player, with several attacking options capable of deciding matches.
Dembele delivers while Norway rotates
Dembele completed his three goals within the opening 25 minutes of the first half. Each finish followed a similar pattern, with the forward cutting inside before driving left-footed shots beyond goalkeeper Egil Selvik. His opening goal after only seven minutes proved the standout moment, arriving after an excellent pass from Mbappe.
Mbappe finished without scoring, yet still played an important creative role, while Olise’s passing and Doue’s movement continually stretched the Norwegian defence. Doue eventually marked the occasion by scoring his first World Cup goal.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken rested all ten outfield players despite his side still having a chance to finish first in the group. The decision disappointed travelling supporters, who repeatedly chanted for Haaland during the match but instead witnessed Dembélé dominate the contest.
Records continue to fall
Dembele’s three-goal performance lifted him alongside Mbappe in the race for the tournament’s leading scorer. France also became the first nation since Poland in 1974 to have two players score four goals each during the group stage, matching the achievement of Grzegorz Lato and Andrzej Szarmach.
The expanded World Cup has also produced another milestone, becoming the first edition of the competition to feature five different players reaching at least four goals before the knockout rounds.
Although France could now face Germany, the Netherlands, or Morocco before a possible semi-final against Spain, the team appears unconcerned by the challenge ahead after another convincing display.
Victory comes despite defensive concerns
France’s attack once again compensated for defensive shortcomings. Norway created opportunities of their own, with Jorgen Strand Larsen seeing a penalty saved by Mike Maignan before Thelo Aasgard found the net with an excellent finish.
The match took place while head coach Didier Deschamps was absent after travelling to attend his mother’s funeral. The French Football Federation revealed that a request for the players to wear black armbands in her honour had been declined by FIFA, leaving the team to pay tribute through its performance on the pitch.
The victory also reinforced the depth of talent available to France. The article notes that facilities across the country and the contribution of numerous immigrant communities have helped produce generations of footballers, with Paris becoming one of the world’s richest areas for developing players. Dembele, Barcola, and Doue also entered the tournament well rested, and France’s wealth of attacking quality has strengthened the belief that this could be their year.
