Ousmane Dembele HAT TRICK! Norway vs. France [LIVE REACTION] | ESPN FC

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Tune into ESPN FC Live alongside Mark Donaldson and Shaka Hislop for post-match analysis of Norway vs. France from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ousmane Dembele tallied a first-half hat trick for the French, as they topped their group.

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[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Hello, welcome to ESPN FC Live presented by Mobile. Norway 1 France 4. Quite the game, five goals, could have had a lot more, a missed penalty as well. Over the next half hour or so, Shaka Hislop and I will go over what we saw. And before we get to Shaka, I just want to give you the bullet points from what we saw today. 10 changes for Norway, but one of them was Erling Haaland, Shaka, not available from the start. That was a decision made by the coach. He wanted to change everything. And their their their record without him isn't great. >> Yeah, I I'll be honest, Mark, when you say for the next half hour or so, I'm like, I'm not sure what we're going to see for half an hour given the news that that that came out with with Norway's starting lineup. 10 changes. Deschamps pretty much going with a a full strength squad. You figure that this game would would go only one way. Granted, there there were a couple of bumps in the road. Norway did score one. They did have a penalty that would have made it 3-2, but it was saved by by Magnin. But other than that, 4-1 is not a surprising result, kind of given what we expected before the ball was kicked. >> There's plenty to talk about. We we can talk about Kylian Mbappe who played very well but didn't get a goal, albeit he got a a couple of assists. Ousmane Dembele becoming the third Frenchman to score a World Cup hat-trick, a couple for Juste Fontaine, and of course Mbappe scoring that World Cup final hat-trick. But it was it was a game in which France really could have been a couple of goals up inside the first 10 minutes. And you had to feel a little bit for Bjorkan, the left-back for for Norway, because he pushed so far up the pitch that he left so much space. And as a result, Ousmane Dembele basically had the freedom of the right-hand side. And it didn't take long, 7 minutes to be exact, for the first of his two goals before his hat-trick came in the 32nd minute. Flying Dembele, and that's why he's a Ballon d'Or winner. >> Yeah, listen, I thought at times you saw the best of France of who France can be. At times, and for long spells particularly in the second half, I felt that France almost didn't get out of second gear. And we often make this point that when you can switch off or you're playing in second gear, it's difficult to get things going again. And and that's what you saw when Norway got their their first goal, when they got the penalty that I just spoke about that could have made it 3-2. That was France for me just kind of feeling to to really up the tempo as as need be. You know, kind of given how the first half went, given how Dembele went, you just felt that that this would be a cruise or there was absolutely no way that that Norway would get themselves back in it. And those are difficult adjustments to make. That being said, the goals have to be scored. Coming into the tournament, the big ask of of Kylian Mbappe was would he, if not could he, do some of the defensive work that every number nine needs to do for a team that hopes to to to go far in in in this tournament. Uh Deschamps has been able to build his team around Kylian Mbappe in the past, but I think coming into this the the this tournament, and and maybe because of how things went with with Real Madrid, there was a lot of eyes on Kylian Mbappe, and more to the point, a lot of eyes on on his defensive duties. And again, against Norway, I thought he did everything that could be asked of him in terms of Nobody's expecting Kylian Mbappe to track a winger into his own box. But, you do want him to put center halves under pressure. You do want him to force the ball down one side if that's where France um want to get their numbers and force Norway into playing. And and that's what he did. Added to that, he did the things that we always know he can and does. Score goals in the earlier games. I said in the on on in during today's game, um a a lot of Sydney in in in creating opportunities, those opportunities and spaces for for Ousmane Dembele to to work in and and exploit. >> The first two goals weren't quite carbon copies, but they kind of emanated from the same place and were finished in the same place. I've already spoken about the Norwegian left back. The center back didn't cover himself in glory, either. The goalkeeper couldn't do much about it. >> No. >> And they they they go two-nil down, Norway, but they had a goal, unlike some other teams in the in this competition. And they got themselves a goal back through Tilo Asgard, and they made a game of this. >> They they they absolutely did. I mean, in a in a in a moment where well, I certainly wasn't expecting them to. I'm not sure how many how many others were to talk about Dembélé's goals. And and first of all, here's here's the challenge with playing up against Ousmane Dembélé who is so comfortable on either foot. He you get as a defender, you get one on one Ousmane Dembélé, you're not sure what to do. You're not sure which side to show him on to because he's just just as good with with either foot and he showed that first with the right, second with the left, and then third coming across the top of the box with the left again. And and and that's the difficulty um of playing up against Ousmane Dembélé, whether you're a starting left back or a second string left back as as as you were in in in in the case today. And then you have to applaud Norway cuz this game is all but dead and buried. You you recognize that the manager has made 10 changes. I may not feature um but often times when French players are included as as they are as they were today and we had the same discussion around Pochettino and and the US yesterday, you want to give the manager something to think about. I I He may be set in his ways. He may be set in who's starting the 11 is but you want to at least play your way into into a higher reckoning. And I think that's what Norway did. Albeit um the game started to run away from them but they never laid down tools. They continued to fight on. They continued to to give France some cause for concern. Um and as a second string team, I'm not sure you're expected to do a whole lot more as a matter of fact. I think that's way beyond what anybody was expecting. >> I would agree with that. They did go 3-1 down. 32 minutes on the clock. So, this was the second fastest from kickoff hat-trick ever in the World Cup. This time it's Tchouaméni playing the role of assist maker and the kingmaker is Dembélé himself. Ah, Juste Fontaine wasn't bad. He's got a couple of World Cup hat-tricks. And Kylian Mbappé in the final. So, the third Frenchman, Ousmane Dembélé, to get that goal. Look, the game's probably done and dusted then. It's a fourth career hat-trick for Ousmane Dembélé. But, I think for when you see the difference in this World Cup, the best teams are the ones that don't need many chances, the most clinical ones to do what they need. >> Mhm. Yeah, I I And that's the thing. And listen, in the bigger picture a lot of France and and well, into the whole discussion around Dembélé is that front that that front four and and the positions that that they play. We know where Kylian Mbappé is doing generally out on on the left-hand side, though there are other options. But, then coming into the World Cup, there's this question around Ousmane Dembélé. Um to start in the the first game against against Senegal, uh Ousmane Dembélé played out on the right-hand side. Dembélé played through the middle. Ousmane Dembélé struggled a little bit and and and Dembélé as well, I I thought, struggled to find um his best position. And now, I spoke about how two-footed Dembélé is. And And that's kind of the downside to it. That in in a front four um where a couple of those players are settled, as I mentioned, Dembélé finds himself filling holes as to where he's needed and doesn't have a set position. Now, if you remember coming into the tournament, France played this friendly against Ireland. Ousmane Dembélé played out on the right-hand side and was just unplayable. >> Yeah. >> So, you understand uh Deschamps starting with Ousmane Dembélé out on the right-hand side in that first game against Senegal. But, France struggled. And then all of a sudden, that half-time switch where he brought Ousmane Dembélé back into the middle, moved um moved Dembélé back out to on onto the right-hand side, and they won the game comfortably. Even if Dembélé um even if he struggled a little bit in in comparison. I I think in terms of today's showing as he settled in that position feels more settled in that position. You show the best of of Ousmane Dembélé. If you if you get Kylian Mbappé playing at his best, if you get Ousmane Dembélé playing at his best, if you get Dembélé playing at his best, and Ousmane Dembélé continues to show the kind of form that he showed today, um listen, while there may have been some questions about France defensively today, on on today's showing at least, that front four at their best, I I'm not sure who stops them. >> I don't know if many do, and I'm glad you brought up the defense. Being a former goalkeeper yourself, how would you rank the French defense as far as the top teams are are concerned? Because they scored for fun. 10 goals in the group stage, but they did keep only one clean sheet, conceding in their first and third game. And look, I know they're already through, but as far as every other top team is concerned, where's France's defense among those? >> Um I I I will say of of of the top contenders, uh Spain, Argentina, I'll include England in there, um Portugal on the outskirts for me of that. I know other people feel Portugal uh should are far more in the reckoning, but I still think Portugal are on the outskirts. Um There There are questions with everybody defensively, in all honesty. And and and that's the thing here. Um certainly with with with the likely contenders to go deep in this tournament, everybody has just those few questions. And while yeah, I I I thought France did not look good defensively today, that was not my complaint. That was not my my my feeling in in the first in the first two games. Um so, I'm I'm giving them a little bit of a pass here in that in saying [clears throat] that they're I guess par for the course when it comes to to those likely to make it to the semi-finals, at least. >> Yeah, we're not judging anybody today. They're already through. They've won the group. They made four changes today and they're just sumptuous going forward. And and that's the thing we we saw in the World Cup final against Argentina. They were the Kolo Muani effort away from from winning that. They always think they can score one more than the opposition. Speaking of of goals, we welcome your questions. If you want to get in touch with us, we've had several so far. Here's one of them. If you were a betting man, Messi's got five, Mbappé didn't get any today. He's still on four. Haaland didn't play today. He's still on four. Is it one of those three winning the Golden Boot or is it somebody else? >> I I think it's one I think it's one of those three. Um and and more likely it may come down to to two as I'm not quite sure how far Norway goes. As good as Erling Haaland is, I think they have far more questions about about Norway defensively, particularly later on in the tournament. I I I picked before the tournament started, I picked France to go all the way. So as a result and almost by default, um I'm I'm favoring uh Kylian Mbappé to to to win the Golden Boot uh this time around. Um I I will also say that while I picked France before a ball was kicked, Argentina and more to the point Lionel Messi have far exceeded my own expectations. Listen, I know how good Lionel Messi is. Greatest of all time, I hold my hand up. I'm I'm happy to to declare as much. But I just wondered playing in in Major League Soccer, um does he still have what it takes up against the best of defenders in in world football? There were some question marks um around that 12 months ago with the Club World Cup and with Inter Miami. Uh how did he fare there? And then all of a sudden this tournament starts. Lionel Messi is what, 38 39 years old? He's not supposed to be looking this good? Again, I I I greatest of all time, but he is not supposed to be looking this good. It is absolutely scary to witness what this man is doing at his age, given everything else that he's already done in in world football. >> But he can't run, they say. He doesn't need to. He just walks and then he's in this he's in this position kind of between the defense and the midfield. The center backs can't come out to him. And it's the dummies and the goals that that that we've seen. I know we're all talking about is Messi better, is Mbappé better or or whatever. It's just magnificent to be talking about a tournament >> It's incredible. >> with such stars. >> It it really is. Now, I on on the one hand I want to jokingly say Lionel Messi clearly's got one of those invisible coats from Harry Potter that he just threw because he's just walking around and nobody seems to be bothered. You've got the greatest player of all time in the park. Nobody seems to know where he is. I am convinced he goes invisible. Um on on on on a on a more serious note, I think what you saw of Argentina 4 years ago was a team under pressure playing to deliver a World Cup for Lionel Messi. And while they started, you know, officially, if that's a word, um with that loss to Saudi Arabia, they certainly grew into it and delivered. What you're seeing from the first whistle this time around is a team and a player who are playing for the fun of it, who are as relaxed as they come and enjoying every minute of their football without that pressure. And that is as worrying a prospect as a Lionel Messi at his best 4 years ago. >> We may see France against Argentina. That'd be something else. We hoped to to see Mbappé today against Holland and we didn't, but we saw Kylian Mbappé. We've spoken about how good they are middle to front. They'll score against any team. The problem now for other teams is they have to try find a weakness before they exploit the weakness. >> So, where is the one area in that French team that other top teams might look at and say, "Right, we need to exploit that." >> Um I listen I Upamecano has been outstanding so far this tournament, but I always feel that there's an error in in Upamecano. And then can you exploit, you know, down the sides of him when when the wing-backs get forward? Those are the questions that I I I ask of of this French national team or certainly the defense around it. Um that for me is is is is a possibility. They will not France are not And while I say that, they are not going to offer you a lot of chances, you have to take them when they do come. >> Got another question um from one of our viewers and it's it's to do with the World Cup in general. You played in Germany 2006 for Trinidad and Tobago. It was a decent World Cup. We've had some brilliant World Cups recently. I've really enjoyed this so far. Where would you put it in the kind of pantheon of of ones that you've watched and obviously taken part in? >> It's it's it's it's difficult for me to rank them in that way because I I absolutely love the World Cup. Every version of it I live for it for every 4 years. I I I really do. Um I I will say though I I it's been a whole lot better than I had expected. And and let me say this, I was one that said I thought 48 teams was too much. 48 was diluting the tournament a little too much. At the end I'll see how I feel about that as a statement. The big concern not not just for me, but for so many people who were critical of of the number of of teams in the tournament was the small nations who qualifying and then we having these very heavy, very lopsided results, which nobody wants to see and it's good for no one. We've had one, Germany beating Curaçao 7-1. Other than that, it's been romantic story after romantic story. As a goalkeeper, you can talk about Brazillian with with with Cape Verde, or indeed Room for for for Curaçao. Keeping 15 saves and setting a a record for for for 90 minutes in in in a game of football. That Those stories, listen me, history will remember eventually wins this tournament. But those stories about small nations and names that no one has heard of kind of making a a a name, making a big splash. That's the romantic side of the World Cup. That's the part of the tournament that I absolutely love. So I am all here for it. So a lot of my concern coming to the tournament just have not become have not become a reality. I As a matter of fact, it has been much the contrary. It's offered more feel-good stories as a result, far more than maybe previous tournaments, far more than I've been expecting. >> Now obviously there's 26-man squads at this World Cup, as been for for a couple. One thing I don't know if it's happened before, Norway now after today's game, every single outfield player has played some minutes. And it's looking like it might be Ivory Coast. Nothing confirmed yet, cuz obviously we need to wait for all the games to see what happens. But it's looking like Ivory Coast against Norway. And if you're the Norwegian coach, Ståle Solbakken, you know that no matter who you can look around and see, everybody has played minutes. How important is that for them? >> It really is because again, expanded tournament, one game more than usual. As a result, your squad is is to be tested a little bit more than than usual. So, not only have you everybody in the squad gotten significant minutes, now your your starting 11, now 10 of them at least, are are better rested in going into to the next round. So, I I I think uh Scaloni has has ticked two boxes. Um We we by making the changes that that he does. I I think it puts Argentina in a very good position um in going forward in you say right now it looks like every contest um that's a good position for them to be in. >> We mentioned Messi earlier. They play Jordan tomorrow. Gives him a chance to extend his lead at the top of the Golden Boot standings. The question is will Scaloni do what Southgate did today and say, "You know what? Have a rest, boys. Get ready for the next round." Or do you think it'll be Messi saying, "Gaffer, you are not benching me. I want to play and I want to score." >> I I think it's the latter. Though I will say this, I think um common sense, if not for bowling sense, suggests that you should rest Lionel Messi. So, on the one hand, I want to say if Scaloni does a rest Lionel Messi, or more to the point, if Lionel Messi rests Lionel Messi, um I I I won't be overly surprised. But, the other the aspect that I I think that you really have to love about Lionel Messi is the way he plays the game. He still plays the game like a kid. It It It It It He really does. And for all the records he's set, I am I was told by the reporter, I can't remember who it is was saying um that Lionel Messi has no idea. He does not keep keep track. He has no idea, you know, how many more goals he needs to break this record. Or he just He just goes out there and and and plays, and then he comes off the pitch and somebody says, "Oh, you've broken another record." And and it's a a little bit of a shock to him. And and you do get that you genuinely do get that feeling in watching him in watching him play the game. So, I'm I'm going to sit on the fence and say if Lionel Messi decides, "Let me take a rest. I need it. I'm not as young as as I once was." He can take a rest. He's earned that. But, how he's played this game almost his entire career is like a kid on the playground. Just let me let me run around for as long as they let me until until my mom calls me home. >> [laughter] >> Time for tea. >> Yeah. >> I don't think there's any chance. If it's left to him, do you want to start against Jordan? Oh, he wants this g