France Advances with Dembélé's Historic Hat-Trick

France marched through their World Cup group with ruthless authority on Friday night, but they did it without the man who has defined their modern era.

Didier Deschamps, in charge of Les Bleus since 2012, missed the 4-1 win over Norway following the death of his mother. While his players lit up the pitch, the shadow of their manager’s absence hung over the occasion.

A tribute denied, and a confusion before kick-off

The French Football Federation had planned a simple, traditional gesture: black armbands in memory of Deschamps’ mother. According to reporting from The Athletic’s Amy Lawrence, FIFA turned down the request.

The tension around the tribute did not end there. Journalists were initially informed by the FFF that a minute’s silence would be held in her honor. Moments later came a correction: FIFA had clarified that the silence was instead dedicated to the victims of the deadly earthquake in Venezuela.

What should have been a straightforward evening for one of the tournament favorites began with a jarring reminder of how little control federations sometimes have over the tone of their own story.

Stéphan steps in, France step up

On the touchline, longtime assistant Guy Stéphan stepped into the technical area he knows almost as well as Deschamps himself. The structure, the intensity, the ambition – all of it looked familiar. France did not simply cope; they imposed themselves.

They tore into Norway, playing with the assurance of a team that has lived deep into tournaments and expects to do so again. The 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up arrived at this World Cup among the leading contenders. Three games in, they look every inch the part.

Kylian Mbappé, already central to the Golden Boot conversation, stretched Norway relentlessly, demanding attention, dragging defenders out of shape. That space became a gift for the man who would define the night.

Dembélé’s night of devastation

Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, produced the kind of performance that bends tournaments around it. He ripped through Norway with a hat-trick that was not only brilliant but historic – the second-quickest treble in World Cup history.

Each goal seemed to carry a little more venom, a little more certainty. Norway could not live with his pace or his angles of attack. By the time his third went in, the contest had shifted from match to exhibition, from tension to statement.

France did concede once, a reminder that perfection remains elusive, but the overall verdict was emphatic. A 4-1 victory, a clean sweep of the group, and a message sent to the rest of the field: even in emotional turmoil, this team remains ferocious.

Perfect record, familiar expectations

Three games, three wins. France close group play on a perfect 3-0 record, their path now bending toward the knockout rounds and a date with a third-place qualifier at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Deschamps has built this side over more than a decade, guiding them to a World Cup title in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022. On Friday, the project he shaped showed it can function – and flourish – even in his absence.

The question now is not whether France are contenders. It is how far this hardened, star-studded squad can go when their manager returns to a team that just proved it can win big while playing through grief.