26/06/2026 19:56 - Deportes
France delivered a masterful performance against Norway at the Boston Stadium, driven by an exceptional display from Ousmane Dembélé. The forward, recognized in this tournament context as the current Ballon d'Or holder, netted three goals in a span of just 32 minutes. This incredible feat marks the second-fastest hat-trick in World Cup history, surpassed only by Austria's Erich Probst in 1954 against Czechoslovakia (24 minutes).
Dembélé opened the scoring at the 6-minute mark following a precise assist from captain Kylian Mbappé. He doubled the lead at minute 19 with a left-footed finish and completed his hat-trick at minute 32 with a crossed shot that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
| Team | Goals | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 4 | June 26, 2026 | Boston Stadium |
| Norway | 1 | Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG) | |
Scorers: Dembélé 6', 19', 32' (FRA); Doué 90+ (FRA); Aasgard 21' (NOR).
Having already qualified, Norway fielded a rotated squad with only Fredrik Aursnes retaining his starting spot. Coach Ståle Solbakken prioritized rest for the knockout stage.
France, however, started with intensity. Mbappé hit the crossbar within the first 25 seconds. The opener came quickly via Dembélé. Norway pulled one back through Thelo Aasgard immediately after the restart, but Dembélé's third goal killed the momentum.
In the second half, goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved a penalty from Jørgen Strand Larsen. Late in the game, Bradley Barcola assisted Desiré Doué for the final 4-1 score.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
