Dembele hat-trick sends France top of Group I

Ousmane Dembele netted a sublime 32-minute hat-trick to blow Norway away and ensure France secured top spot in World Cup Group I on Friday. The first-half onslaught was set up by Kylian Mbappe, who provided the assists for two of Dembele's strikes. Norway boss Stale Solbakken rotated heavily and left Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard on the bench, and the visitors were punished early when they gave the ball away straight from kick-off and Mbappe's fierce drive hit the crossbar.

France opened the scoring after six minutes when Mbappe picked out Dembele, who turned his marker and finished into the far corner. After a blocked effort from Michael Olise and a miss from Jorgen Strand Larsen, Mbappe set up Dembele's curled finish from the edge; Thelo Aasgard replied with a low strike, but Dembele completed his hat-trick before half-time with a composed left-footed finish.

Early in the second period Theo Hernandez conceded a penalty, but Mike Maignan saved Strand Larsen's weak spot-kick.

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