After beating Norway 4-1 in Boston, France sent a message to every other team in the World Cup: we are the team to beat. Ousmane Dembele fired in three goals before half-time as France dominated a Norway team that made 10 changes. Norway’s defence looked suspect from the first whistle as France outgunned them. Norway were without goal-scoring machine Haaland and their creator Odegaard, who were both on the bench.
France are the Best Team in Attack, Says Roy Keane
The French have the ability to keep possession with every player getting a touch of the ball, or they can play two or three quick passes, and they are thorough on goal. Having the ability to play different ways is brilliant, and means teams are never sure how to play against you.
Dembele’s first-half hat-trick was only the second time it has happened in a World Cup. The last time was at the 1994 World Cup, when Oleg Salenko scored three against Cameroon for Russia. With France safely through to the knockout rounds, it seems they will face Sweden on Tuesday in New Jersey.
