France vs Norway FIFA World Cup match result: Dembele masterclass guides France past Norway as they seal Group I in style | Football news

In an electrifying first half, Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick, leading France to a decisive 4-1 victory over Norway. (AP Photo)

Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele He put on a breathtaking first-half masterclass, bagging a sensational hat-trick to power France to a 4-1 victory over Norway at Gillette Stadium on Friday. With this dominant victory, Les Bleus maintained their perfect record in Group I, while Norway progressed to the Round of 32 as group runners-up.The match started at a frantic pace, with the French captain Kylian Mbappé hitting the crossbar just 21 seconds into the game after an explosive sprint down the right wing. France did not have to wait long for the breakthrough as Dembélé opened the scoring in the seventh minute, latching on to a precise pass from Mbappé and curling a right-footed shot over Norway goalkeeper Egil Selvik.Dembélé doubled the lead in the 20th minute, weaving between three defenders on the edge of the box before unleashing a brilliant left-footed drive. In a stunning response, Norway hit back just 14 seconds after the restart when midfielder Thelo Aasgaard found the back of the net to make it 2-1. However, Dembélé crushed the brief Norwegian resurgence in the 32nd minute, restoring the two-goal cushion to complete the first hat-trick in the first half of the World Cup since Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994.Norway rested ten regular starters for this match, notably leaving talismanic striker Erling Haaland on the bench for the full ninety minutes to preserve him for the knockouts. Selvik started in goal in place of Orjan Nyland as part of the big changes.Despite the structural changes, Norway earned a massive lifeline in the 49th minute when Theo Hernandez tripped Oscar Bobb in the penalty area. However, Jorgen Strand Larsen’s penalty was saved by Mike Maignan. Youngster Bobb was a constant threat in the second half, but a solid French defense stood firm.Dembélé left the field to a standing ovation in the 65th minute, replaced by Bradley Barcola. The Paris Saint-Germain substitutes combined wonderfully in second-half injury time, with Barcola turning provider for Desire Doue, who slotted home France’s final goal to cap a historic evening in Foxborough.