“Dembélé shines with a hat-trick and France defeats Norway to lead the group.”

Ousmane Dembélé dazzled the football world by scoring a hat-trick in just 32 minutes, securing a resounding 4-1 victory for France against Norway B, a result that allows the French to finish at the top of the group. In an electrifying performance, Dembélé not only dispelled any doubts about his ability to perform on the big stage but also reignited the hopes of French fans for a triumphant run in this competition. The rout, constructed before halftime, paves the way for a more favorable knockout stage for “Les Bleus,” who thus remain in the New York-Philadelphia-Boston area for their upcoming challenges.

The coach Didier Deschamps, absent due to family reasons following the death of his mother, will see a team returning with an attack in fine form, but with old defensive problems still to resolve. The clash took place against a depleted Norway, without Erling Haaland, who remained on the bench throughout the match, and with a defense made up of second-string players. Kylian Mbappé, despite not scoring, proved decisive by assisting Dembélé twice and taking on the role of a true captain, committed to defensive duties and supporting the midfield on several occasions.

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The importance of this victory goes far beyond the three points. In addition to securing first place in the group and allowing for some rotation within the squad, France ensures that it will avoid arduous and exhausting trips in the next stage, a crucial logistical advantage in a competition of this caliber. The resurgence of Dembélé comes at a vital moment: “After such a long wait for my first goal in a major competition, I needed this breakthrough. Today I finally felt free to play with confidence,” admitted the winger of Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the match. His goal-scoring explosion and the ability to play consistently after a season troubled by injuries represent an invaluable asset for Deschamps.

However, not everything went smoothly for the French. The defensive sector once again displayed worrying weaknesses, with Dayot Upamecano showing some unusual hesitation and Jules Koundé failing to convince critics regarding his starting position. The Norwegian goal, scored by Thelo Aasgaard in the first half, resulted from a lackluster defense and a careless approach by Dembélé in his coverage. The start of the second half brought more chills, with Théo Hernandez committing a childish penalty – thanks to the inspiration of Mike Maignan, who saved the maximum penalty and later prevented the second goal from the Nordics with a crucial intervention. “We need to quickly correct the defensive mistakes. We cannot afford these lapses if we want to be champions,” Maignan warned after the final whistle.

The absence of goals from the main stars, Mbappé and Haaland, turned out to be one of the most unusual facts of the night. Mbappé, tireless in distributing play and pressing high, hit the crossbar in the opening seconds, but ultimately stood out in decisive passes and collective work. Haaland, on the other hand, did not even lace up his boots, a decision that surprised Norwegian fans and likely influenced the outcome.

With the qualification and the status of group leader secured, France now faces the round of 16 with high morale but aware that it needs to stabilize the defensive sector to avoid jeopardizing the dream of lifting the trophy again. It remains to be seen whether Deschamps will make changes in the backline or stick with continuity, trusting that the offensive power of Dembélé and company will be enough to mask the weaknesses at the back. The pressure is mounting, expectations are high – and the world will be watching the response of “Les Bleus” when the competition enters its decisive phase.

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