New Delhi, June 28 -- France coach Didier Deschamps knows all about succeeding with little. At this World Cup though, the captain of their triumphant 1998 team who has as coach led them to a title and runners-up finish in the last two editions is showing that plenty doesn't meant a problem. In 1998, France went all the way with critics and experts wondering how the hosts would deliver without a designated No.9. They did fine, inspired by Zinedine Zidane's class and goals. Going into the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the big question for a side brimming with talent was how Ballon d'Or winner, Ousmane Dembele, can be slotted in effectively in a line-up whose primary task is to assist talisman Kylian Mbappe. On Friday in Boston, Dembele provided evidence of a solution with the fastest first-half hat-trick in World Cup history. His goals in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes, each time coming in from his favourite rightwing position, demonstrated that Deschamps is likely to keep the attacking instincts intact. France beat Norway - both had already qualified - 4-1 on Friday to round off engagements in Group I with three wins and the maximum nine points. Norway rested Erling Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard and the towering forward Alexander Sorloth. However, France will be buzzing going into the knockouts - they will play Sweden in the Round of 32 - after slotting in 10 goals so far. Mbappe has accounted for four of those, while Dembele's fluent show will boost France as they eye the big prize after losing to Argentina in the final four years ago in Qatar. The 29-year-old Dembele though had been a bit of an enigma pulling on his France shirt despite emerging a vital cog in Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain, who won the UEFA Champions League back-to-back besides staying Ligue 1 champions. Enrique has found the best version of Dembele by getting him to play more central up front. And Dembele has delivered for PSG. Last season, he scored 35 goals in all club competitions. That followed a sensational 2024-25 season where he scored 35 goals and had 16 assists, helping PSG win a treble - Ligue 1, Champions League and Coupe de France. It won him the coveted Ballon D'oR. France, chasing a third World Cup title, can now aim to intimidate opponents with their awesome attacking arsenal. While Desire Doue, who scored the other goal against Norway, and Michael Olise joined Mbappe and Dembele to run circles around the Norway defence, young PSG forward Bradley Barcola, who also plays on the right wing, can be called upon. "It is a unique moment," Dembele said. "But the most important was to finish first of the group in the group stage, and we are focused on the Round of 32, which is the most important." World Cups can be a fast forward affair for coaches who fail to sort out issues. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti needed the first half of a surprisingly tame opening draw against Morocco to ring in the changes effectively. With Denmark making several changes, it made France's job easier. Deschamps played Dembele more centrally in the first half of France's opening Group I tie against Senegal, but it did not produce any attacking spark and stayed goalless at the break. However, a tweak at half-time, moving Michael Olise into No.10 position did the trick. It was his superb through ball that Mbappe instinctively ran on to and drove home to get the 66th minute lead. It ended 3-1 for France with Mbappe adding a second in added time. The game had barely warmed up when Dembele struck. Mbappe was the provider as Dembele cut into the penalty box and powered a low, right-footer to the far corner. The France spearhead again fed Dembele to his right, shaking off a shirt pull by Leo Ostigard on a fast counter. As the defender hesitated, Dembele calmly curled in, this time with his favourite left-foot, into the far corner from just outside the penalty box. The hat-trick was sealed 12 minutes later, this time Dembele moved into the box from the right, and thrice shifted as the defence hesitated before shooting for goal unchallenged. Norway had briefly made it 1-2 after Thelo Aasgaard scored in the 21st minute, also benefitting from a defence that did not press, perhaps lacking urgency with qualification already assured. Norway will face Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 on June 30. Senegal won 5-0 against Iraq, who finished with 10 men, to qualify as the third team from Group I....