Ousmane Dembele had the game wrapped up before halftime. The France winger struck three times in the opening 32 minutes to put Norway to the sword at Gillette Stadium on Friday, with Desire Doue adding a 90th-minute fourth in a 4-1 victory that sends Didier Deschamps’ side into the knockout rounds in fine form. Thelo Aasgaard pulled one back for Norway immediately after the second French goal, but it was the only real moment of hope for Stale Solbakken’s team in a match France controlled throughout.
Key Moments
- 7′, Dembele opens the scoring with a normal goal, giving France an early foothold at Gillette Stadium.
- 20′, Dembele doubles France’s lead, his second in 13 minutes making it 2-0.
- 21′, Norway respond almost immediately through Thelo Aasgaard, briefly reducing the deficit to 2-1.
- 32′, Dembele completes his hat-trick, restoring France’s two-goal cushion at 3-1 before halftime.
- 50′, Jorgen Strand Larsen misses a penalty for Norway, a moment that effectively ends any hope of a comeback.
- 90′, Desire Doue finishes off the scoring at 4-1, capping a dominant evening for France.
Tactical Breakdown
France controlled the game from the opening whistle. Deschamps’ side finished with 57% possession, 18 total shots to Norway’s 10, and 9 shots on target compared to 4 for the hosts. The 4-2-3-1 shape gave Dembele the freedom to drift across the front line and exploit space behind Norway’s high defensive line, and he needed no second invitation. France’s 86% pass accuracy (480 of 557 completed) allowed them to dictate tempo and recycle quickly, rarely giving Norway time to settle into their 4-3-3 structure. The xG numbers (France 1.31, Norway 1.69) reflect a Norway side that had some genuine moments, but the scoreline tells a truer story of how one-sided the first half was.
Norway made two changes at halftime, bringing on substitutes at left back and central midfield, but the adjustments had little effect. A bigger opportunity came in the 50th minute when Larsen stepped up to take a penalty, a conversion that would have made it 3-2 and potentially reopened the contest. He missed, and France’s grip on the game never loosened. Deschamps took off Dembele and Michael Olise at the 65th minute, a rotation he could afford precisely because the result was already beyond doubt.
Norway’s main weakness was their inability to build sustained pressure after Aasgaard’s 21st-minute equalizer. The missed penalty from Larsen was their clearest second-half opportunity, and with only 4 shots on target across 90 minutes, they never threatened Maignan in goal. Patrick Berg’s early yellow card for holding also disrupted Norway’s midfield rhythm at a critical early stage, limiting their ability to press France high up the pitch.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Verdict
France finish the group stage in dominant fashion, a three-goal first half from Dembele removing any doubt about the result early. Norway exit the tournament having shown some attacking intent, but their defensive frailties proved costly against a French side operating at a different level. Deschamps will head into the knockout rounds with his squad healthy, his rotation options clear, and one of Europe’s most dangerous wingers in the form of his life.