France Dominates Group I as Mbappé and Dembélé Shine

France did not just qualify. They stamped their authority on Group I.

With Kylian Mbappé threading passes rather than finishing moves and Ousmane Dembélé in ruthless mood in front of goal, France swept aside Norway 4-1 to seal top spot with a perfect nine points and book their place in the Round of 32.

Mbappé the creator, Dembélé the executioner

The tone was set almost immediately.

Seven minutes in, Mbappé dropped into a pocket of space, lifted his head and sliced Norway open with a superb through ball. Dembélé raced onto it and lashed a powerful finish beyond the goalkeeper. One chance, one goal, and France were already in control.

Norway barely had time to reset before the same combination tore them apart again.

On 20 minutes, Mbappé once more picked the lock, feeding Dembélé, who this time opted for precision over power. The finish was clinical, the lead doubled, and France were playing with a swagger that suggested the group was already theirs.

Norway’s brief lifeline, France’s instant reply

Norway did not fold. A minute after Dembélé’s second, Aasgaard struck to pull it back to 2-1, a reminder that any lapse would be punished.

But any hint of a comeback vanished before it could grow.

Just past the half-hour, Aurélien Tchouameni stepped into the spotlight. From midfield, he timed his pass perfectly, sliding the ball into Dembélé’s path. The winger completed his hat-trick of goals with the 1-3, restoring France’s two-goal cushion and underlining the gulf in quality in the final third.

Three goals for Dembélé. Two assists for Mbappé. One for Tchouameni. France’s stars were dictating everything.

Konaté’s World Cup bow and the final flourish

With the result effectively secured, the second half became about control, rhythm and minutes in the legs.

In the 75th minute, Ibrahima Konaté stepped onto the pitch, marking his first appearance in this World Cup. It was a gentle introduction, with France managing the game and Norway chasing shadows more often than chances.

The French side still had one last punch to throw.

Deep into added time, Doué struck to make it 1-4, sealing a statement win and putting a bold underline beneath France’s dominance of Group I.

Nine points. Top of the group. And next up, a Round of 32 tie against one of the best third-placed teams.

France have arrived, and they look in no mood to slow down.