France beat Norway as Dembélés hat-trick secures Group I top spot

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France secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Norway in Boston on Friday evening, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a first-half hat-trick to lead Les Bleus to the top of Group I at the 2026 World Cup. The result, confirmed by multiple live reports , means France finishes the group stage unbeaten, while Norway’s late consolation goal came too late to alter the standings. Both teams had already qualified for the round of 32 before kick-off, but the Group I decider carried added significance: the winner would face Germany in the next round, should both advance.
Dembélé’s performance was the defining moment of the match, with the Barcelona winger completing his hat-trick inside 32 minutes. His first goal arrived after just 20 seconds, setting the tone for a dominant French display. Norway, missing Erling Haaland—who was an unused substitute—struggled to contain France’s attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Dembélé. Mbappé, despite not starting, entered the match late but could not prevent his side from taking control .
Norway’s coach Ståle Solbakken faced criticism for resting key players, including Haaland, in a bid to prioritize fitness ahead of the knockout stages. The decision backfired as France’s relentless pressure yielded dividends, though Norway did pull one back through a second-half penalty converted by Alexander Sørloth. The missed opportunity loomed large: Norway had equalized early in the second half only for Mike Maignan to make a crucial save, preserving France’s lead .
The result leaves France as Group I winners with nine points, while Norway finishes second with six. Senegal, who beat Iraq 4-0 in a parallel match, will now face the daunting task of finishing among the best third-placed teams to advance. For France, the victory provides momentum ahead of a potential clash with Germany, while Norway must regroup quickly after a sobering display against one of the tournament’s pre-tournament favorites .
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