Ousmane Dembele delivered a press release efficiency as France defeated Norway 4-1 on Friday, and the match provided a number of vital classes forward of the FIFA World Cup knockout levels.
The Ballon d’Or winner scored one of many earliest hat-tricks in World Cup historical past, discovering the online within the seventh, twentieth and thirty second minutes as France completed the group stage with an ideal 9 factors.
Listed below are the important thing classes realized from France’s spectacular victory over Norway:
1. France are not depending on Kylian Mbappe
For years, France’s success has usually been linked to the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe. Nevertheless, Dembele’s excellent show proved that Les Bleus possess a number of match-winners.
Whereas Mbappe supplied the help for the opening aim and remained a relentless menace, Dembele stole the headlines with a scientific efficiency that underlined France’s attacking depth. The emergence of Dembele as a constant goalscorer might cut back the stress on the captain throughout the knockout rounds.
2. Luis Enrique’s tactical change has remodeled Dembele
One of many greatest classes from the event up to now is how a lot Dembele has developed as a participant.
The choice by Luis Enrique to deploy Dembele in additional central attacking positions at Paris Saint-Germain has turned him right into a extra full and decisive ahead. Though he began from the correct towards Norway, his motion, ending and decision-making mirrored the boldness of a participant working on the peak of his profession.
His 4 targets in three matches have already made him one of many standout performers of the World Cup.
3. France’s squad depth may very well be their biggest weapon
Regardless of lacking head coach Didier Deschamps, who travelled dwelling to attend his mom’s funeral, France nonetheless produced one of many performances of the event.
Gamers comparable to Need Doue, Aurelien Tchouameni and Theo Hernandez stepped up, displaying that France possess high quality all through their squad.
Scoring 10 targets in three group matches additional highlights the attacking energy accessible to the previous world champions.
4. Norway’s squad rotation technique could repay
Norway’s heavy defeat mustn’t essentially trigger alarm.
Coach Stale Solbakken rested key gamers together with Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Alexander Sorloth after qualification had already been secured.
The choice allowed Norway to guard their star gamers forward of a troublesome Spherical of 32 conflict towards Ivory Coast. Whereas the scoreline was damaging, preserving the health of their key males could show to be the wiser long-term technique.
5. Defensive lapses stay France’s greatest concern
Regardless of the convincing victory, France as soon as once more confirmed indicators of vulnerability on the again.
Norway pulled a aim again instantly after Dembele’s second strike, exposing a momentary lapse in focus by the French defence. The staff additionally conceded a penalty within the second half, though goalkeeper Mike Maignan rescued them with a save from Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Towards stronger opposition within the knockout levels, such defensive errors might show pricey.
6. Dembele has entered elite French World Cup historical past
Dembele’s hat-trick positioned him alongside a number of the biggest names in French soccer historical past.
Earlier than Friday, solely Simply Fontaine and Mbappe had scored World Cup hat-tricks for France. His achievement additionally strengthens his rising fame as one of many main gamers at this 12 months’s event.
With 4 targets already and France trying more and more dominant, Dembele has emerged as a real contender to be the star of the World Cup.
