Ousmane Dembélé has always been a footballer who promises more than he delivers. We have seen the flashes, the moments of staggering brilliance that...
Ousmane Dembélé has always been a footballer who promises more than he delivers. We have seen the flashes, the moments of staggering brilliance that make you wonder why he isn't winning the Ballon d'Or, followed by weeks of frustrating anonymity. But on Friday night in Group I, the Paris Saint Germain winger finally let the world see the complete, ruthless version of himself. His first hat trick for Les Bleus was not just a personal milestone. It was a tactical sledgehammer.Facing a Norway side that had already qualified for the knockouts, you expected a cagey affair. Instead, what we got was a masterclass in transitional play. Dembélé was the catalyst. His first goal was a venomous strike from the edge of the box that left the Norwegian keeper no chance. The second was pure instinct, a poacher's finish that reminded us he isn't just a dribbler. The third That was the one. He picked the ball up on the right, cut inside onto his left foot, and bent a curler into the far top corner that made the Stade de France gasp. Clinical finishing of the highest order.Of course, the narrative around this fixture was always going to be about the man who wasn't there. Erling Haaland was given the night off by the Norwegian coach, a decision that practically screamed 'we have bigger fish to fry'. One can understand the logic. Why risk your prize asset in a dead rubber But you have to wonder about the message it sends. Norway effectively parked the bus before a ball was kicked, and France punished their timidity. Haaland's replacement, a willing but limited striker, never looked like troubling the French backline.This is where a columnist must ask the difficult questions. Is resting your star man in a World Cup group match, even a dead one, a sign of cowardice or crafty management Norway will argue the latter, but they got a bloody nose for their caution. France, meanwhile, now top the group with a swagger that suggests they are peaking at the right time. Didier Deschamps will be delighted with the tactical flexibility on show; his side didn't just win, they bullied a team that was supposed to be their equal.What does this mean for the knockouts It means France have a fully firing Dembélé. When he plays with this confidence, he changes the geometry of the pitch. Defenders cannot show him inside, they cannot give him space, and they certainly cannot afford to let him shoot. If this is the Dembélé we see in the latter stages of the tournament, you would not bet against another deep run for the reigning champions. For Norway, the squeaky bum time is only just beginning. Haaland's return will be vital, but they have just watched a master of the art show exactly what they were missing.
