Dembele’s Historic Hat-Trick in Boston
Ousmane Dembele delivered a remarkable performance, scoring a hat-trick within 25 minutes to lead France to a 4-1 victory over Norway. This win secured France’s position at the top of Group I in the World Cup 2026. The match, played in Boston, saw Dembele open the scoring in the seventh minute at the Gillette Stadium.
His second goal came in the 20th minute, followed by his third in the 32nd minute. This impressive feat makes Dembele the first player since Erich Probst in 1954 to complete a hat-trick earlier in a World Cup match. Probst achieved his hat-trick in 24 minutes for Austria against Czechoslovakia.
Dembele’s goals were all scored by finding the same bottom corner of the net, with his second and third goals coming from his left foot. The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s display will likely alleviate some of the pressure on captain Kylian Mbappe to be the sole match-winner for France. Dembele now has four goals in the tournament, having also scored in France’s 3-0 win against Iraq.
Norway managed to pull one goal back through Thelo Aasgaard, who scored from the edge of the box 79 seconds after Dembele’s second goal. However, Desire Doue sealed the victory for France with a header in stoppage time, his first goal of the tournament, from a cross by substitute Bradley Barcola.
Group Stage Dominance and Squad Changes
France concluded the group stage with a perfect nine points, having scored 10 goals across three matches. Their dominance in Group I was evident, and they will now remain in the northeastern USA for their next fixture. France is set to face a third-placed finisher in the last-32 tie at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next Tuesday.
For Norway, who had already secured their progress to the knockout stages with six points from wins against Iraq and Senegal, the match against France saw significant squad rotation. Coach Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting line-up, resting key players such as Erling Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard, and striker Alexander Sorloth. Only Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes was retained from their previous match.
Solbakken explained that the changes were made to ensure the team was well-rested for the upcoming knockout game, emphasizing the importance of a long World Cup campaign. Norway will play Ivory Coast in Dallas next Tuesday. During the match, Norway had a chance to reduce the deficit from a penalty after Oscar Bobb was tripped by Theo Hernandez, but Jorgen Strand Larsen’s spot-kick was saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France also had some notable changes to their squad. Arsenal defender William Saliba was rested due to a sore back, with Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace taking his place. Doue, Theo Hernandez, and Aurelien Tchouameni all returned to the starting lineup. Despite these changes, Dembele and Mbappe both retained their positions, with Mbappe earning his 101st cap.
Looking Ahead to the Knockout Stages
The match was played without France’s coach Didier Deschamps, who had returned to France for his mother’s funeral. Deschamps, who will step down after 14 years in charge at the end of the World Cup, is expected to rejoin the squad on Saturday. His absence did not deter the team, who showcased their attacking prowess.
Roy Keane noted France’s attacking strength, stating that they are the best in the competition going forward. He highlighted their ability to both maintain possession and execute quick counter-attacks, making them a formidable opponent. France will face one of the third-placed teams, most likely Sweden, on Tuesday, June 30, with kick-off scheduled for 10 PM in New Jersey.
Norway’s coach Solbakken emphasized the importance of resting players to ensure the team’s longevity in the tournament, despite the potential desire from fans to see star players like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in action. Norway will play Ivory Coast on Tuesday, June 30, at 6 PM in Dallas, Texas.
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Source: skysports.com
