France defeated Norway 4-1 in their recent World Cup 2026 encounter, securing the top position in Group I with a perfect record. The match saw Ousmane Dembélé deliver a rapid hat-trick, positioning him as a key contender in the Golden Boot race. Despite the comfortable scoreline for France, Norway had opportunities to alter the outcome, including a missed penalty and another squandered chance.
Dembélé’s performance was particularly notable, as he completed his hat-trick within 32 minutes of the first half. This achievement places him among the fastest hat-trick scorers in World Cup history, ranking fourth overall. Only László Kiss, Erich Probst, and Sándor Kocsis have scored hat-tricks more quickly in the tournament. Dembélé’s feat also marks him as only the third player to score a hat-trick for France in the World Cup, joining Just Fontaine and Kylian Mbappé. Additionally, he became the first player in 32 years to score a first-half hat-trick in a World Cup match, a feat last accomplished by Oleg Salenko in 1994.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The game was not without its early drama. Mbappé hit the crossbar just 22 seconds into the match, which, had it gone in, would have been among the fastest goals in World Cup history. However, it was Dembélé who ultimately dominated the first half with his three goals. His clinical finishes, though against a somewhat weakened Norwegian defense, were instrumental in France’s commanding lead.
Norway, despite the deficit, created chances. Jørgen Strand Larsen missed a penalty early in the second half, and Oscar Bobb later failed to convert a clear opportunity. These moments could have brought Norway back into the contest, highlighting that the final score did not fully reflect the ebb and flow of the game. Norway’s changes in the second half included Thorsby and Holmgren Pedersen replacing Bjorkan and Thorstvedt at halftime, and later Nusa and Hauge coming on for Bobb and Schjelderup.
France also made tactical substitutions, with Barcola replacing Dembélé and Cherki coming on for Olise in the 65th minute. Konate was introduced for Upamecano in the 76th minute. Towards the end of the match, Doue added another goal for France, with Barcola providing the assist. This goal further solidified France’s victory and their position at the top of the group.
Group Standings and Tournament Implications
With this win, France concludes the group stage with a perfect record, reinforcing their status as favorites to win the tournament. Norway, despite the loss, is expected to advance to the knockout stages, having presumably finished second in Group I. Both teams will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament.
In the other Group I fixture, Senegal secured a 5-0 victory over Iraq. This result means Senegal is also likely to progress to the knockout rounds. The outcomes of these matches set the stage for the next phase of the World Cup, with teams now preparing for the challenges of the elimination rounds. France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, was absent from the match, with assistant coach Guy Stephan taking charge.
The strategy of rotating players in the final group stage match is not new for France, as they have done so in previous tournaments after securing qualification. This approach allows key players to rest ahead of the demanding knockout stages. The team’s depth was evident in their ability to maintain a high level of performance despite changes to the lineup. The match concluded with France’s dominant 4-1 victory.
Dembélé, Mbappé, and Erling Haaland are all tied with four goals after three games in the Golden Boot race, one goal behind Lionel Messi, who is expected to play against Jordan on Sunday morning.
Source: theguardian.com
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