Ousmane Dembele delivered a phenomenal first-half hat-trick to propel France to a 4-1 win against Norway in Boston.
Both nations entered this Group I fixture already guaranteed a spot in the knockout rounds. France needed just a draw to claim first place. Instead, they delivered a dominant performance to finish perfectly. Dembele struck early, finding the net in the seventh minute. He doubled his total soon after with a gorgeous shot from distance. Norway quickly answered through Thelo Aasgaard to close the gap. However, Dembele secured his third goal by the 32nd minute. This remarkable feat marks the first opening-half hat-trick at a World Cup tournament this century.
Second Half Struggles
Norway fought hard to recover after the break but stumbled when Jorgen Strand Larsen missed a penalty kick. France capitalized on this error deep into stoppage time. Desire Doue headed in the final goal after receiving a perfect cross from Bradley Barcola. Fans in soccer-loving regions like Odisha know that a team scoring three or more goals in four consecutive World Cup matches signals extreme danger for upcoming opponents. France now awaits a third-place qualifier, while Norway travels to Dallas to face Ivory Coast.
Image Courtesy: ANI
