Ousmane Dembélé hat-trick and Mike Maignan penalty save steer France past Norway | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé hit a hat-trick inside the opening half-hour as France beat Norway 4-1, with Mike Maignan saving a second-half penalty.

L'Équipe noted that Dembélé exploited the space on the right and, once on a treble, chose the pass when he might have chased a fourth. Kylian Mbappé teed up the first two, rattled the bar after 23 seconds, and Dembélé struck on 7, 20 and 32 minutes.

After the break, Jörgen Strand Larsen saw his spot-kick pushed away by Maignan on 50 minutes, and the keeper later denied Oscar Bobb on 72. Maignan could do nothing about Norway’s goal, and he had an early scare under their press as he struggled with distribution.

Fredrik André Björkan endured a torrid night, involved in all three first-half goals conceded from his flank, and was replaced at half-time by Marcus Pedersen. Kristian Thorstvedt also made way for Morten Thorsby at the interval. Andreas Schjelderup, Strand Larsen, Leo Östigard and goalkeeper Egil Selvik struggled despite several Selvik saves, while Bobb and Thelo Aasgaard stood out.

Dembélé was withdrawn for Barcola on 65 minutes, with Olise also taken off, and Mbappé later departed for Mateta on 87. Stéphan took charge in the absence of Didier Deschamps, who attended his mother’s funeral, kept faith with a stable side and introduced Konaté and Mateta, who had not featured until then.

Source: L'Équipe