France concluded their World Cup group stage in impressive fashion, with Ousmane Dembele at the forefront, delivering a remarkable first-half hat-trick to secure a 4-1 triumph over Norway. The Paris Saint-Germain star was in sensational form, netting three goals within the opening half to dismantle the Norwegian defense and etch his name into the history books. This achievement made Dembele the first player since 1994 to accomplish a World Cup first-half hat-trick.
From the outset, France asserted their dominance on the pitch. Dembele found the back of the net in the 7th, 20th, and 32nd minutes, setting the tone for the match. Norway managed to pull one back with a goal from Thelo Aasgaard, but France maintained control throughout the encounter.
Early in the second half, Norway had an opportunity to narrow the scoreline when they were awarded a penalty. However, French goalkeeper Mike Maignan came through with a vital save, denying Strand Larsen and preserving France’s lead. Kylian Mbappe also came close to adding to France’s tally, striking the crossbar with a powerful shot.
The victory was capped off by Désiré Doué, who scored in stoppage time to ensure France’s emphatic win. The result underscores France’s strong form as they move into the knockout stages, while Norway looks ahead to their next challenge.
Dembele’s standout performance has added another layer of attacking prowess to an already talented French squad, further boosting their prospects in the tournament.
