By Dr Talal Osman
France wrapped up their Group H campaign in authoritative fashion, defeating a rotated Norway side 4–1 to maintain their perfect record at the 2026 World Cup.
Ousmane Dembélé delivered a standout performance, scoring a first‑half hat‑trick with goals in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes, underlining France’s attacking superiority throughout the contest. Tilo Østegaard briefly pulled one back for Norway midway through the first half, but the European champions remained firmly in control.
Désiré Doué added a late fourth deep into stoppage time, capping a dominant display from Didier Deschamps’ men.
Dembélé’s tally now rises to four goals, drawing level with Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. All three trail Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who leads the standings with five goals.
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken opted to rest several key players, including Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, after securing qualification to the Round of 32 prior to kick‑off.
France, champions in 1998 and 2018 and runners‑up in Qatar 2022, will face one of the third‑placed teams on Wednesday morning in New Jersey. Norway, meanwhile, meet Côte d’Ivoire in Arlington on Tuesday evening.
France’s Balance and Depth on Display
Beyond Dembélé’s heroics, France’s broader structure impressed. Aurélien Tchouaméni anchored midfield with authority, while Eduardo Camavinga and Antoine Griezmann provided fluidity and passing angles. The full-backs pushed high, stretching Norway’s shape and creating overloads that the Scandinavian side struggled to contain.
Deschamps rotated intelligently without compromising cohesion. The team’s depth — long considered one of its defining strengths — was once again evident.
A Late Fourth Underscores French Control
As the match drifted into stoppage time, Désiré Doué added a fourth goal, a reward for France’s persistent pressure and a reminder of the squad’s emerging talents. The 19-year-old’s strike sealed a victory that felt comprehensive in both scoreline and performance.
Golden Boot Race Tightens Behind Messi
Dembélé’s hat-trick lifts him to four goals, level with Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland. All three now sit just behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who leads the Golden Boot race with five goals, having scored every one of his nation’s goals in the tournament.
For France, the significance extends beyond individual accolades. Their attacking rhythm appears sharper with each match, and their defensive structure despite the occasional lapse remains among the most stable in the competition.
Contrasting Paths Ahead
France will face one of the third‑placed teams on Wednesday morning in New Jersey, a fixture that, on paper, should favour the two‑time world champions. Yet Deschamps has been quick to caution against complacency, noting the unpredictability of knockout football.
Norway, meanwhile, will return to full strength when they meet Côte d’Ivoire in Arlington on Tuesday evening. With Haaland and Ødegaard restored to the lineup, Solbakken’s side will look markedly different from the one that faced France.
A Statement Win Without Overstatement
In typical French fashion, there was no excessive celebration at full-time just a quiet acknowledgement of a job done well. This was not a performance designed to dazzle for its own sake, but one that demonstrated maturity, depth and a growing sense of purpose.
France leave the group stage perfect. More importantly, they leave it looking ready.
