Ousmane Dembele nets 2nd-fastest WC hat-trick in history

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts, June 27 (Agencies): Ousmane Dembele has etched his name into FIFA World Cup history after scoring the second-fastest hat-trick ever recorded from the start of a match, powering France to a dominant victory over Norway.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward completed his hat-trick in just 32 minutes during France's final Group I match, scoring in the 7th, 20th, and 32nd minutes. Only Austria's Erich Probst has done it faster, with a 24-minute treble in 1954.
His achievement places him ahead of iconic World Cup hat-tricks by England's Gary Lineker (36 minutes, 1986) and West Germany's Gerd Muller (38 minutes, 1970). Fresh from an impressive club season, Dembele's performance is being hailed as one of the standout moments of the 2026 World Cup.
Earlier, Dembele scored one of the earliest hat-tricks in World Cup history on Friday as the Ballon d'Or winner starred in France's 4-1 win over a second-string Norway, while Erling Haaland watched on from the bench.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele opened the scoring in the seventh minute at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, struck again on 20 minutes and, after Thelo Aasgaard had pulled one back, he made it 3-1 in the 32nd minute. The only player to complete a hat-trick earlier in a World Cup match is Erich Probst, who got three inside the first 24 minutes for Austria against Czechoslovakia in 1954. Dembele moves on to four goals at the tournament after also scoring in the 3-0 win over Iraq on Monday, and his display here will perhaps ease some of the pressure on captain Kylian Mbappe to always be France's match-winner. Desire Doue completed the scoring late on, and the victory allowed France to end the group stage with the maximum nine points -- they have scored 10 goals in three games and advance as Group I winners.
France will now stay in the northeastern USA for a last-32 tie against a third-place finisher at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next Tuesday.
It was an emotionally charged day for Les Bleus, who had to play this match without coach Didier Deschamps after he returned to France to attend his mother's funeral. Deschamps, who will step down at the end of the World Cup after 14 years in charge, is due back with his squad on Saturday.
Norway, who also saw Jorgen Strand Larsen have a penalty saved, go through in second place with six points, their progress already having been secured before this game thanks to wins over Iraq and Senegal.
That explains why coach Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting line-up here following the 3-2 win over Senegal last time out. Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard and striker Alexander Sorloth were among the players rested, with Benfica's Fredrik Aursnes the only one retained. The regulars will undoubtedly return in the next round, and Norway will take on Ivory Coast in Dallas next Tuesday.
France were without Arsenal defender William Saliba as he rested a sore back, so Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace replaced him. Doue, Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni all returned. However, Dembele and Mbappe both kept their places, with the latter winning his 101st cap and looking to add to his 16 World Cup goals and catch up with Lionel Messi's overall tournament record of 18.
But Dembele, a teammate of Mbappe's in the France team that won the 2018 World Cup, stole the headlines with his brilliant hat-trick.
Mbappe released the 29-year-old for the early opener, as Dembele cut in from the right, dropped a shoulder and went back onto his right foot before firing across goalkeeper Egil Selvik and in.
Dembele was transformed into a Ballon d'Or winner after Luis Enrique, his coach at PSG, moved him from the wing into a central role.
But he caused havoc here coming in from the right flank, scoring his second as he cut infield and curled a low shot on his left foot into the far corner.