World Cup favourites France cruised to a 4-1 victory over Norway at Boston Stadium on Sunday to claim top spot in Group I with maximum points.
Dembele (7′, 20′, 32′) scored the World Cup’s second-fastest ever hat-trick ahead of a 94th-minute goal from Desire Doue, while Thelonious Aasgaard (21′) scored the only goal for a much-changed Norway side as Jorgen Strand Larsen missed a second-half penalty.
Both teams had already secured their place in the knockout rounds of the competition, but while France made four changes to the side that beat Iraq, Norway opted to rest 10 players, with only Fredrik Aursnes retaining his place in the starting XI.
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The gulf in class was evident from the off as Kylian Mbappe hit the crossbar inside the opening 25 seconds after France immediately sent the ball forward to their star man, although replays suggested Norway goalkeeper Egil Selvik got a touch to the ball.
Selvik was then forced into a strong save to his left to keep out a driven strike from Michael Olise from the edge of the area after the Norwegians failed to clear their lines.
But there was no stopping Dembele from opening the scoring after just seven minutes. Set free by Mbappe, he danced into the penalty area before burying an unstoppable shot past Selvik.
Norway’s first chance fell to Kristian Thorstvedt, but he failed to test Mike Maignan with an ambitious effort from distance.
Olise thought he had scored with a close-range effort in the 13th minute, but Fredrik Aursnes came out of nowhere to make a decisive block. Strand Larsen then wasted a great chance to level after expertly controlling a delivery from Aursnes, only to poke his effort wide.
Mbappe tested Selvik at his near post following a swift attacking move, but an in-form Dembele was beginning to steal the show as he netted his second goal of the game against Norway’s second string with a scintillating left-footed curler beyond the outstretched Selvik.
There was an immediate response as Norway scored straight from the kick-off, with Aasgaard given time and space to pick his spot and guide the ball past Maignan.
Dembele then completed his first World Cup hat-trick in style with just 32 minutes played, effortlessly curling the ball into the bottom-left corner in a near carbon copy of his second goal.
France continued to press but could not add to their tally before the half-time break and nearly saw their lead reduced to just one goal four minutes into the second half as Oscar Bobb went down under the challenge of Theo Hernandez.
Strand Larsen stepped up but saw his spot-kick well saved by Maignan low to his left.
Leo Ostigard was not far wide with a glancing header from a 55th-minute corner, while Mbappe fired just past the top-right corner of the Norway goal as he continued to search for his first goal of the game.
Bobb looked to be the creative spark in Norway’s attack but saw all the power taken out of his shot in the 64th minute, before Mbappe was thwarted at the other end with a blocked effort.
Maignan denied Bobb with a strong right hand and Patrick Berg had his low drive blocked as Norway enjoyed much of the ball in the closing stages without seriously threatening the scoreline.
France, though, were not done and Doue capped off a memorable performance with a goal deep into stoppage time.
Les Blues will now take on Sweden in their Round of 32 clash as Norway lock horns with Ivory Coast on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.