The crowd in Foxborough came expecting a heavyweight World Cup storyline built around Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. Instead, Dembélé took the match for himself, scoring in the 7th, 20th, and 32nd minutes as France beat Norway 4-1 in their Group I finale. Haaland remained on the bench after Ståle Solbakken made 10 changes with Norway already through to the knockouts. Mbappé started, hit the bar inside 22 seconds, and helped drive France forward, but Dembélé owned the night from the right side.
Thelo Aasgaard briefly pulled Norway back into the match in the 21st minute, but France had already found the weakness. Dembélé kept isolating Fredrik Bjorkan, kept cutting inside, and kept finishing past Egil Selvik. By halftime, France led 3-1 and looked every bit like a side chasing first place, not just protecting qualification.
Dembélé punished Norway’s rotation early
Solbakken’s gamble defined the match before it started. Norway rested Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Alexander Sorloth, Sander Berge, and several regulars with the Round of 32 in mind. Fredrik Aursnes shifted to right back, while Jesper Daland Falchener, Leo Ostigard, and Bjorkan formed part of a reshaped defense.
France attacked that uncertainty immediately.
Mbappé nearly scored after 22 seconds, forcing Selvik to tip his shot onto the bar. Manu Koné tested the Norway keeper from distance. Désiré Doué followed with another effort. France did not allow Norway’s changed back line to settle.
Dembélé’s first goal came from the right. Mbappé dropped deeper and released him with a diagonal pass. The winger drove at Bjorkan, chopped inside, and fired across Selvik into the far corner. It was direct, sharp, and repeatable.
His second goal followed a similar route. Dembélé again cut in from the right and curled his finish across Selvik. Norway had barely caught its breath before Aasgaard answered.
Aasgaard’s goal was well taken. Norway moved quickly after the restart and worked the ball inside. He slipped away from Dayot Upamecano before drilling a low shot past Mike Maignan. For a brief spell, Norway had a route back.
Dembélé closed it almost immediately.
France chased first place with intent
Dembélé completed his hat trick in the 32nd minute with another cut inside and another curling finish. Bjorkan backed off, Dembélé created a yard, and the ball found the bottom corner again. By that point, France’s right side had become the central story of the match.
France assistant coach Guy Stéphan had made the team’s motivation clear before kickoff, saying, “Didier wants to finish top, as the whole group does, because it would be completely different logistically. First place is best.”
Didier Deschamps was absent after returning to France for his mother’s funeral, leaving Stéphan to guide the side from the touchline. Still, France were not treating the match like a formality.
That line explained France’s approach. They played with purpose, even with qualification already secured. Mike Maignan, Jules Koundé, Upamecano, Théo Hernandez, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Michael Olise, Dembélé, Doué, and Mbappé gave France enough structure and speed to overwhelm Norway’s rotated lineup.
Norway had chances of its own. Strand Larsen shot over from a promising position in the first half. Aasgaard’s goal briefly changed the tone. Selvik made several important saves to keep the score from turning ugly before the interval.
Still, the damage was clear. Bjorkan was replaced at halftime after spending most of the opening 45 minutes chasing Dembélé. That substitution said plenty.
Maignan blocks Norway’s route back
The second half began with Norway’s best chance to make the match uncomfortable. Oscar Bobb won a penalty in the 49th minute after Théo Hernandez left a leg out inside the box. Strand Larsen stepped up in the 50th minute with a chance to cut France’s lead to 3-2.
Maignan stayed patient and saved a weak side-footed effort. The stop changed the feel of the half. Norway had created a lifeline, but France’s goalkeeper shut it down before pressure could build.
After that, France managed the match with more control. Mbappé nearly added a fourth with a long-range curling effort in the 56th minute. Doué continued to carry the ball into dangerous areas. Dembélé remained a threat until the 65th minute, when Bradley Barcola replaced him. Olise also came off, with Rayan Cherki entering as France began protecting legs.
Norway still pushed in moments. Bobb had a chance after Aasgaard slipped him into space, but his touch let him down and Maignan dealt with the shot. Solbakken is gambling that a rested Haaland will matter more in the knockout round than a disjointed defensive display in Foxborough.
Doué made sure the final score reflected France’s superiority. In the 90+4th minute, Barcola found space on the left, checked back, and delivered a precise cross to the far post. Doué guided his header over Selvik and into the top corner to seal the win.
Dembélé changes France’s attacking picture
Everyone knows France have elite attacking options. The more important question is which players can decide knockout matches when opponents load up on Mbappé.
Dembélé made his case with force. His first-half hat trick was not a random burst. It came from repeated one-on-one dominance, clean finishing, and a clear understanding of where Norway were vulnerable. France kept finding him, and he kept punishing the same channel.
That matters now. Knockout matches often tighten quickly. Space becomes harder to find. Opponents will plan for Mbappé first, which means France need other players capable of turning attention elsewhere into goals.
Dembélé did exactly that in Foxborough.
Norway can still frame the night as squad management. Haaland, Odegaard, Sorloth, and others will return fresher for the Round of 32. That may prove valuable. Yet this was still a warning about how quickly a rotated side can be exposed against a team with France’s attacking depth.
France leave with top spot, rhythm, and another match-winner in form. A game expected to revolve around Haaland and Mbappé instead became Dembélé’s showcase.
READ MORE: Mbappé And Haaland Turn Group I Decider into World Cup Ambition Test
FAQS
1. Why did Erling Haaland not start against France?
Norway rested Haaland as part of 10 changes after already qualifying for the knockout round.
2. What was the final score of Norway vs France?
France beat Norway 4-1 in their Group I finale in Foxborough.
3. How many goals did Ousmane Dembélé score against Norway?
Dembélé scored 3 goals. He completed his hat trick in the first half.
4. Who scored Norway’s goal against France?
Thelo Aasgaard scored Norway’s only goal in the 21st minute.
5. Why was the win important for France?
France secured top spot in Group I and entered the knockouts with momentum.
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