Boston: Dembélé’s hat-trick secures top spot for France against Norway
27.06.2026
France secures group victory
France defeated Norway 4-1 in a World Cup 2026 group stage match, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a hat-trick. The win allowed France to finish at the top of Group I with the maximum nine points, having scored 10 goals across three games. This victory means France will advance to a last-32 tie against a third-place finisher at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next Tuesday.
Dembélé, a forward for Paris Saint-Germain, opened the scoring in the seventh minute at Boston Stadium. He added his second goal in the 20th minute. After Thelo Aasgaard scored for Norway, Dembélé completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute, making the score 3-1. Desire Doue sealed the victory for France with a late goal.
Dembélé’s performance in this match, where he scored three goals in the first half, follows his previous goal in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq on Monday, bringing his tournament total to four goals. His display may alleviate some of the pressure on captain Kylian Mbappé to consistently be France’s primary match-winner. Mbappé, who played in the match and earned his 101st cap, provided the assist for Dembélé’s opening goal.
Norway’s strategy and upcoming match
Norway, despite the loss, also advanced to the knockout stage, finishing second in Group I with six points. Their progression was secured before this game due to earlier wins over Iraq and Senegal. Coach Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting lineup for this match, resting key players such as Erling Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard, and striker Alexander Sorloth. Only Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes was retained from the previous game against Senegal.
Norway’s coach Solbakken opted for a rotated squad, which meant that the anticipated matchup between Mbappé and Haaland did not fully materialize. Norway will face Ivory Coast in Dallas next Tuesday in their next round match. During the game, Norway had an opportunity to narrow the deficit when Oscar Bobb earned a penalty, but Jorgen Strand Larsen’s spot-kick was saved by France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Team dynamics and coaching situation
France played this match without their coach Didier Deschamps, who returned to France for his mother’s funeral. Assistant coach Guy Stephan oversaw the team. Deschamps is expected to rejoin the squad on Saturday. The team also saw the return of Theo Hernandez, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Doue to the lineup, while Arsenal defender William Saliba was rested due to a sore back, with Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace stepping in.
Dembélé, who was part of the France team that won the 2018 World Cup, has been playing in a central role for his club, a change implemented by his coach at PSG, Luis Enrique. This adjustment has been highlighted as a factor in his recent form. Dembélé expressed the team’s focus on winning every match and maintaining their concentration for the upcoming, more critical stages of the tournament.
In another Group I match, Senegal secured a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq, with Pape Gueye scoring two goals. Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye also contributed goals, along with Habib Diarra who opened the scoring. This win helped Senegal secure a third-place finish in the group, keeping their hopes alive for one of the eight third-place spots in the round of 32.
France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan noted that the team achieved their objectives in the game, demonstrating enjoyment and intensity, despite some moments where they were not at their best. He also mentioned the team’s thoughts were with Deschamps and they looked forward to his return on Saturday.
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Source: aljazeera.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.