Dembélé's First Half Hat Trick Powers France to Dominant 4-1 Win Over Norway

France delivered another commanding performance at the FIFA World Cup , cruising to a 4-1 victory over Norway as Ousmane Dembélé produced a sensational first half hat trick to underline his status as one of the tournament's standout stars.

The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner wasted little time making his mark, opening the scoring in the seventh minute after being brilliantly set up by Kylian Mbappé . The winger doubled France's advantage in the 20th minute , weaving through defenders before firing home, and completed his remarkable treble in the 32nd minute to put the match beyond Norway's reach before halftime.

The feat was historic, marking the first first half World Cup hat trick since Russia's Oleg Salenko achieved it against Cameroon in 1994 . Dembélé also took his tally to four goals in this year's tournament , strengthening his position among the competition's leading scorers.

Norway briefly showed signs of a comeback when Thelo Aasgaard found the net just 14 seconds after the restart , reducing the deficit to 2-1. However, France quickly regained complete control as Dembélé struck again less than nine minutes later, restoring the three goal cushion.

France continued to dominate possession and create chances throughout the contest. In the 65th minute , Dembélé received a deserved ovation as he was substituted for Bradley Barcola after another match winning display.

Norway had an opportunity to narrow the gap further early in the second half after Theo Hernandez conceded a penalty by bringing down Oscar Bobb inside the area. However, Jorgen Strand Larsen's spot kick was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan , denying Norway any hope of mounting a comeback.

France added the finishing touch in stoppage time when Désiré Doué calmly slotted home the fourth goal, completing another emphatic victory for the former world champions.

Mbappé , despite not scoring, once again played a crucial role in France's attack with an assist for Dembélé's opener. The captain now boasts an extraordinary 16 goals and four assists in 17 World Cup matches , further cementing his reputation as one of the tournament's greatest performers.

With qualification already secured before kickoff, France maintained their perfect momentum heading into the knockout stage . Norway, who had also booked their place in the Round of 32 , finished second in the group despite the heavy defeat.

France's blend of attacking flair, clinical finishing, and defensive solidity has made them one of the strongest contenders for the title, and if Dembélé continues this sparkling form alongside Mbappé, the reigning European giants will be difficult for any team to stop.