JUST IN: DEMBELE FIRES FRANCE TO WORLD CUP GROUP VICTORY AS SENEGAL KEEP KNOCKOUT HOPES ALIVE

DEMBELE FIRES FRANCE TO WORLD CUP GROUP VICTORY AS SENEGAL KEEP KNOCKOUT HOPES ALIVE


France delivered another dominant performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday night as Ousmane Dembele produced a stunning first-half hat-trick to lead Les Bleus to a convincing 4-1 victory over Norway, securing top spot in Group I.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward and reigning Ballon d’Or winner stole the spotlight with goals in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes, helping France maintain a perfect record in the tournament and confirming their status as one of the strongest contenders for the title.

Much of the attention before kickoff at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Boston, had centered on the anticipated showdown between French captain Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.

However, the expected battle never materialized after Norway surprisingly left Manchester City star Haaland on the bench.

With Haaland absent from the starting lineup, Dembele took complete control of the match, showcasing France’s attacking strength with a clinical display in front of goal.

Norway briefly threatened a comeback after Thelo Aasgaard found the net in the 21st minute to reduce the deficit.

But France quickly regained full control after Dembele completed his hat-trick minutes later to restore a comfortable advantage.

Norway had an opportunity to fight back early in the second half when Jorgen Strand Larsen stepped up for a penalty in the 50th minute, but the striker failed to convert.

France sealed the emphatic victory deep into stoppage time when Desire Doue, another PSG player, added the fourth goal to complete the dominant performance.

The match was played under emotional circumstances for the French team after head coach Didier Deschamps temporarily stepped away earlier this week following the death of his mother.

Before kickoff, both France and Norway observed a moment of silence in tribute to victims affected by the recent devastating earthquake in Venezuela.

With the victory, France advance as Group I winners and will face one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams in the Round of 32.

Norway, despite the defeat, will now face Ivory Coast in Dallas on June 30, with qualification hopes still intact.

Meanwhile, Senegal boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stage after recording an impressive 5-0 victory over Iraq in their final group match.

The emphatic win handed the African side their first points of the tournament and significantly improved their goal difference.

Senegal must now wait for results from other groups to determine whether they can secure one of the tournament’s best third-place qualification spots.

Elsewhere in the competition, Spain continue their push for top spot in Group H as they prepare for a crucial clash against Uruguay in Guadalajara, while Egypt aim to finish top of Group G when they face Iran in Seattle.

As the tournament progresses, Friday’s results further confirmed France’s growing title credentials while keeping Senegal’s World Cup dream alive.

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