FOXBOROUGH — France secured a decisive 4-1 victory over Norway in a World Cup group stage match on Friday, showcasing the depth and skill of Les Bleus while providing a stark contrast to Norway’s strategy of resting key players.
France, missing only injured center back William Saliba from their usual starting lineup, dominated from the outset before a crowd of 64,146. The match quickly took shape as Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring in the seventh minute and later completed a hat trick. Désiré Doué also contributed, netting his first World Cup goal as France maintained their unbeaten streak, securing a third consecutive win in the tournament.
Assistant coach Guy Stéphan, stepping in while head coach Didier Deschamps was absent to attend his mother’s funeral, emphasized that the team's approach allowed players to remain fresh for upcoming rounds. Stéphan highlighted the importance of logistical planning, noting that France’s decision to base themselves near Boston's Logan Airport facilitated easier travel and allowed players to spend valuable time with their families during the tournament. The team is set to continue training at Bentley University before moving on to New Jersey for their Round of 32 match on Tuesday.
In contrast, Norway coach Stale Solbakken elected to rest most of his starting lineup, including stars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. This decision reflected a long-term strategy, with Norway preparing for a crucial Round of 32 game against Ivory Coast in Dallas on Tuesday. Several Norwegian players had experienced cramps during their previous win over Senegal, and Solbakken expressed confidence that the rest would benefit his squad’s chances in the knockout stages.
“[Fans] want to see Erling and Martin and, hopefully, we can give them some good summer nights in the next weeks,” Solbakken said. He acknowledged that while the current match lacked the anticipated showdown between Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, resting key players was "a no-brainer" decision focused on maximizing Norway’s competitiveness moving forward.
France’s offensive pressure was evident from the start, exemplified by a Kylian Mbappé shot in the opening seconds that rattled Norway’s crossbar. Despite their dominance, Stéphan noted moments of complacency and defensive lapses, which he attributes to the team beginning to ease up with the game largely in hand.
“If you want to be on the perfectionist side... we end up giving opportunities to opponents,” Stéphan explained. He maintained confidence in France’s squad, describing the team as capable of combining skillful dribbling and tactical play, though acknowledging the need to maintain balance as the tournament progresses.
With Deschamps expected to return to practice Saturday, Stéphan expressed satisfaction in his role managing the team during the match and looked ahead to preparing for more challenging fixtures in the knockout rounds. The result cemented France’s strong position in the tournament and underscored their depth and preparation, while Norway’s cautious approach highlighted differing philosophies as the World Cup advances.