France Top Group I With Perfect Record After Dembele’s Treble

Ousmane Dembele delivered a stunning first-half hat-trick Friday at Gillette Stadium, guiding France to a commanding 4-1 victory over Norway in their final World Cup Group I fixture. The comprehensive win sealed France’s perfect group stage run, confirming their status as Group I winners and World Cup favorites.

Dembele’s Early Blitz Secures Group Win

Dembele ignited the scoreboard early, netting his first goal in the 7th minute. He quickly followed, finding the back of the net again in the 20th minute, just before Norway’s Thelo Aasgaard briefly reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 21st minute. Not to be outdone, Dembele completed his remarkable hat-trick in the 32nd minute, making it one of the earliest trebles in World Cup history and the first first-half hat-trick since Oleg Salenko’s five-goal performance at USA 1994, per ESPN.

France, having already secured progression from their group with wins over Canada (2-0) and Côte d’Ivoire (3-1), continued their dominant form. This perfect group stage, ending with a 9-2 goal difference, led Sports Illustrated to emphasize that France has earned “the easiest possible path to the World Cup crown” on paper, per Sports Illustrated. Norway, having also clinched early qualification, rotated heavily, leaving star striker Erling Haaland on the bench and making nine changes from their previous match.

Doué Seals Dominant French Performance

As the match progressed, France maintained control, thwarting Norway’s attempts to mount a comeback. The 19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Desire Doué, capped off the impressive French display with a header in the 90+4th minute, marking his first World Cup goal after coming on as a substitute. Doué’s goal underscored the depth and attacking variety available to Didier Deschamps, a point highlighted by The Guardian, noting that Norway’s second-string side “could not live with Dembele’s tempo and directness.”

Despite his phenomenal individual performance, Dembele later described it as his “least impressive performance of the tournament so far,” showcasing the high standards of the French squad. ESPN described the display as confirmation that France are “World Cup favourites,” noting Dembele’s explosiveness on the right and his understanding with Kylian Mbappé – who provided at least one assist – giving Deschamps “an almost unplayable front line when they are on song.”

Looking Ahead: Knockout Stage Bound

With this victory, France amassed nine points from three games, solidifying their position atop Group I. They will now head to the round of 32 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next Tuesday, facing a third-place finisher from another group. Their opponent will be confirmed once all group standings and third-place permutations are settled. This deep run in the tournament means France is a strong contender, much like the caliber of players in Gotham FC’s recent acquisition of Norway forward Guro Reiten, who also brings international experience.

Norway, despite the loss, also progresses to the knockout phase, where they will face Côte d’Ivoire in Texas. This matchup against Côte d’Ivoire could reshape the bracket in France’s half of the draw, offering an intriguing path for both sides. The anticipation for these knockout matches builds, echoing the excitement around recent international play, such as the USA’s victory over Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup, where individual brilliance often defines tournament success.