World Cup: Dembele scores hat-trick as France beat Norway, Senegal stay alive

Ousmane Dembele netted a first-half hat-trick, leading France to a dominant 4-1 victory over Norway and securing the top position in World Cup Group I. The win maintained France's perfect start to the tournament.

The match, held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston, had generated pre-game hype around a potential duel between France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland. However, Haaland was notably left on the bench by Norway, shifting the spotlight to Dembele, who scored in the 7th, 20th, and 32nd minutes.

Norway briefly threatened a comeback when Thelo Aasgaard scored in the 21st minute, but Dembele's third goal restored France's two-goal advantage. Despite Jorgen Strand Larsen missing a penalty for Norway in the 50th minute, France controlled the remainder of the match. Desire Doue added a fourth goal for France in stoppage time.

In other Group I action, Senegal boosted their chances of reaching the last 32 by defeating Iraq 5-0, improving their goal difference and securing their first points of the tournament. Senegal now awaits the results of other group games to determine if they advance. France will proceed to face one of the best third-placed teams in the knockout stage, while Norway is set to play Ivory Coast for a place in the round of 16.

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Paris Saint-Germain’s reigning Ballon D’Or winner Dembele scored in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes as France maintained their 100 percent start to the tournament with another dazzling attacking display.