Norway — France

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough witnessed something genuinely strange today: France won 4-1, yet Norway's xG of 1.69 actually exceeded France's 1.31. The scoreboard screamed dominance; the numbers whispered something far more complicated. That paradox deserves honest unpacking. The first half belonged almost entirely to one man. Ousmane Dembélé tore Norway apart three times before the break — 7th, 20th, 32nd minutes. His movement into pockets nobody else sees, that explosive first step, the instinct to arrive exactly where defenders aren't — it was a clinic. A hat-trick by the 32nd minute at a World Cup requires a player operating at a frequency that simply cannot be tracked. A rating of 9.71 is barely sufficient praise. Yet Norway deserve far more credit than the scoreline suggests. They created four big chances and converted just one — Thelo Aasgaard pulling one back at 21 minutes, a moment of real defiance squeezed between Dembélé's second and third. Three big chances missed is a brutal statistic. Had even one more gone in before half-time, we are discussing an entirely different match. The finishing let Norway down in ways their pressing absolutely did not. France, for all their efficiency, were not flawless. Eleven fouls, and an xG of just 1.31 tells you these goals came from sharp execution rather than overwhelming pressure. Two of their own three big chances were missed. The control was never as complete as the score implied. The VAR moment in the 48th minute adds another layer: a penalty awarded to Norway involving Oscar Bobb — also their standout performer with a rating of 8.19. Whether the contact justified the decision is exactly the conversation that will fill every pub tonight. Michael Oliver confirmed it, VAR confirmed it — but the images will be argued over for days. Norway improved after the break, possession climbing from 37% to 49%, but Désiré Doué's 90th-minute goal closed the door completely. On FootLegion, every goal your country scores is yours to keep forever. Two questions for the comments: does Dembélé's hat-trick finally silence every doubt about his consistency on the biggest stages? And can Norway survive this group if they keep creating chances at this rate — but converting them at this rate?