Dembele Hat-Trick Leads France to 4-1 Victory Over Norway, Secures Round of 32 Berth

FOXBOROUGH, USA (CNA) – Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele recorded a hat-trick today as France defeated a rotated Norway side 4-1 in their World Cup group stage finale. Norway’s star striker Erling Haaland remained on the bench for the duration of the match.

Representing Paris Saint-Germain, Dembele opened the scoring in the 7th minute and added a second goal in the 20th minute. While Norway’s Thelo Aasgaard managed to pull one back, Dembele completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute, extending the lead to 3-1.

Statistically, only Austrian player Erich Probst has achieved a faster World Cup hat-trick, having scored three goals within 24 minutes against Czechoslovakia in 1954. Desire Doue later added a header to secure a 4-1 victory for France, who finished Group I with nine points from three wins.

France will remain in the United States to face a best-third-place team at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on the 30th. Norway, having already secured qualification through prior wins against Iraq and Senegal, finished second in the group with six points and will face Ivory Coast in Dallas on the 30th.