France triumph without Deschamps as Dembélé scores historic hat-trick
France’s march through the 2026 World Cup took a surreal turn on Friday night: a 4-1 win over Norway, a statement of intent on the pitch, and a gaping absence on the touchline.
Didier Deschamps, the architect of this era, was not there to see it.
The France manager missed the game following the death of his mother, leaving longtime assistant Guy Stéphan to lead the team in their final group match. It should have been a straightforward night of football. It became something more complicated, more human.
A tribute blocked and a silence confused
The French Football Federation had planned a simple gesture. Black armbands, worn in quiet tribute to their absent coach’s mother. According to reporting from Amy Lawrence of The Athletic, FIFA rejected the request.
The confusion did not stop there. Journalists were initially told by the FFF that there would be a minute’s silence before kick-off in Deschamps’ mother’s honor. Moments later, a clarification arrived: FIFA had informed them the silence would instead be held for the victims of the deadly earthquake in Venezuela.
So France lined up without their manager, without the armbands they wanted, under a silence that carried a different, though no less serious, meaning. It set a strange tone for a team so used to the familiar figure of Deschamps anchoring everything from the technical area.
Stéphan steps up, France respond
On the grass, the players did what this generation does best: they imposed themselves.
With Stéphan in charge, France tore into Norway and never really let go. The performance had the sharpness of a side that knows exactly who it is, even when its leader is far away.
Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, lit up the night. He produced the second-quickest hat-trick in World Cup history, a blistering reminder of why he sits firmly in the Golden Boot conversation. Every time he drifted into space or accelerated past a defender, Norway’s back line looked increasingly helpless.
Kylian Mbappé, also chasing the tournament’s top scorer prize, remained a constant threat, stretching the game, dragging defenders out of position, and giving France the platform to attack in waves. Norway never found a way to stem the tide.
By the time the fourth French goal went in, the contest was long since decided. The 4-1 scoreline reflected the gulf in class, but also the ruthless edge that has defined Deschamps’ tenure since he took over in 2012.
A heavyweight moves into the knockouts
This victory sealed a perfect group stage: three games, three wins. No stumbles, no late drama, just the cold efficiency of a team that has already lived through the extremes of World Cup football.
Deschamps’ record with France already includes a World Cup title in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022. Now, even in his absence, his work is visible in every passing lane they close, every counterattack they launch, every moment of control in high-stakes games.
France now head to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday, where they will face a third-place finisher from another group. On paper, it is a favorable draw for one of the tournament’s heavy favorites.
But the story around this team has shifted slightly. They are no longer just the powerhouse with Mbappé and Dembélé chasing individual glory and another star on the shirt. They are a group playing, at least in part, for a manager dealing with personal loss away from the spotlight.
The football looks as ruthless as ever. The emotions, this time, run a little deeper.
