France winger Ousmane Dembele has expressed unexpected modesty after scoring a remarkable hat-trick against Norway, insisting that his earlier group-stage displays had a greater impact. The current Ballon d'Or holder etched his name into the record books with a blistering treble that confirmed France’s place at the top of Group I, yet he remained self-critical about his overall contribution.

The Ballon d'Or winner delivered a sensational performance, netting the second-fastest hat-trick in World Cup history during France’s 4-1 victory over Norway. Dembele struck three times within the opening 32 minutes, equalling records that had stood since 1954 and ensuring Les Bleus finished first in their group. Despite his ruthless precision against a largely rotated Norwegian side, the Paris Saint-Germain forward was quick to deflect the praise directed his way, calling instead for total team focus as the competition heads into the knockout phase.

Reflecting on the comprehensive win, Dembele stressed the importance of team unity and communication, remaining humble about his individual achievements. Speaking to M6, he said: "It was an important match to finish top of the group. We want to win every game, and we are going to stay focused because what lies ahead is going to be even more difficult. There are quality players on the pitch, and even on the bench. And with communication, it makes things easier. We understand each other better, so that’s good; we need to keep it up."

Despite his historic first-half hat-trick, Dembele offered a refreshingly honest assessment of his display after the match, suggesting he had performed better in previous games. He remarked: "I'm happy, it's a unique and important moment for me. My performance was good, but I preferred my match against Senegal or against Iraq - I think I was much more influential. We have to stay focused; important things are on the horizon."

France head into the knockout stages full of confidence after three consecutive wins in the group phase, setting up a round-of-32 encounter with Sweden next Tuesday. With Dembele in red-hot form alongside Kylian Mbappe, Les Bleus will aim to maintain their dominant momentum against Graham Potter’s unpredictable squad.