FOXBORO — Nearly all the talk heading into the matchup between France and Norway at Boston Stadium centered around megastars Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland squaring off.
But with Norway opting to rest Haaland and nine other starters, all eyes turned to Mbappé. And while Mbappé flashed his elite skills, it was his teammate that ended up in the spotlight by pulling off an otherworldly feat.
Ousmane Dembélé stole the show with a brilliant effort as the talented striker notched a first-half hat trick to pace France to a 4-1 win over Norway on Friday afternoon. Dembélé became the first player to notch three goals in the first half — he only needed 32 minutes to do so — at the World Cup since Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994.
Dembélé’s goal-scoring explosion quickly propelled him into the Golden Boot race with four total tallies, tying Mbappé and Haaland while trailing Argentina’s Lionel Messi by one for the tournament lead. It was much-needed production from Dembélé after getting off to a slow start to begin the tournament.
“Ousmane is human being and just like any human being he heard the criticism,” said France assistant coach Guy Stephan, who was at the helm against Norway with head coach Didier Deschamps away from the team to attend his mother’s funeral. “He managed to score three goals in a World Cup game, which is not usual.”
France took Group I with the win and will face a third-place team from one of five groups Tuesday in the Round of 32. Stephens said Deschamps will return to the team Saturday. Meanwhile, Norway will be well-rested for its first knockout game on Tuesday as well, but the opponent will be much stiffer as it takes on Ivory Coast.
Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken said he overhauled the lineup with some players dealing with bumps and bruises and also due to the quick turnaround to play the Ivory Coast.
“It was a no-brainer, both on my part from the physio coach and some players themselves. Some said it would be difficult for them (to play),” Solbakken said. “We are all here to proceed (as far as we can). It was a no-brainer. It was not a decision that took a while to come to.”
Norway forward Erling Haaland, right, chats with France forward Kylian Mbappé after the game as Norway faced France in the group stage of the World Cup. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Dembélé reminded everyone he’s the most recent Ballon d’Or winner when he got his scoring spree started in the seventh minute with Mbappé making a long-range diagonal pass to Dembélé on the right wing. Dembélé dribbled into the box where he cut left, before switching back to his right and drilled his shot into the far post for a 1-0 advantage.
Mbappé, who rung the crossbar with a shot 20 seconds into the game, picked up his second assist when he set up Dembélé in the 20th minute. Mbappé, who was being dragged down, got the ball to Dembélé again on the right wing and this time Dembélé cut inward and delivered a sensational strike with his left foot from outside the box that beat the outstretch dive of Norway keeper Egil Selvik.
Dembélé’s third goal was similar to his second as he got to his left foot inside the box with Norway defenders in front of him and tucked his shot into the far corner for a 3-1 lead in the 32nd minute. Dembélé ran off in celebration to revel in his accomplishment and as he did so, he counted his number of goals in the game on his fingers.
There was a chance for Dembélé, who was subbed out in the 64th minute, to add to his total in the 43rd minute when he had the ball and space inside the box, but he elected to pass up his bid, which resulted in a groan from the France supporters as Norway thwarted the opportunity.
Désiré Doué capped the scoring for France in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half when he headed in a pass from Bradley Barcola.
“Their four up front is the best in the competition by far with Mbappé, Dembélé, Doué and (Michael) Olise,” Solbakken said. “They are for sure one of the big, big favorites.”
Sweat explodes off the head of France defender Dayot Upamecano, right, and Norway defender Leo Østigård as Norway takes on France in the group stage of the World Cup. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Despite playing with primarily all backups, Norway put forth a valiant effort as Thelo Aasgaard scored quickly off the restart following Dembélé’s second tally.
The Norwegians almost pulled within a goal in the 48th minute when Oscar Bobb drew a foul on France defender Theo Hernandez in the box. But French keeper Mike Maignan guessed the right way on Jorgen Strand Larsen’s ensuing penalty kick, diving to his left to stop the shot.
Maignan made one more impressive save in the 72nd minute when he got his glove on Bobb’s low shot to keep the good times rolling for France.