Dembélé hat-trick leads France to dominant win over Norway, top of group

France concluded their 2026 World Cup group stage campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Norway, securing the top spot in Group I. This win ensures a potentially smoother path in the knockout stages, with their round of 16 match scheduled for Tuesday in New York.

Ousmane Dembélé was the star of the match, netting a first-half hat-trick against a Norwegian team described as a "B team." While the French defense showed some vulnerabilities, allowing a goal, newcomer Maxence Lacroix impressed in his World Cup debut. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was instrumental, saving a penalty and making a crucial save later in the game, hinting at a potential turning point for the player.

The victory marks a perfect record for France in the group stage, setting a positive tone as they advance. The match also saw notable performances from other players, though the focus remained on Dembélé's offensive prowess and Maignan's goalkeeping heroics.

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Not guilty on the Norwegian goal, the Milan goalkeeper did not particularly shine in his footwork. He shone more in his favorite exercise, the penalty, having saved one in the 50th minute, before a magnificent save with his left hand (72nd).