LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick as France powered past Norway 4-1 to clinch top spot in World Cup Group I on Friday, as Senegal kept their hopes of a last-32 spot alive with a thumping victory over Iraq.

Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) reigning Ballon d’Or winner Dembele scored in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes as France maintained their 100 per cent start to the tournament with another dazzling attacking display.

The pre-match hype around Friday’s game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston, had focused on a duel between France striker Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian counterpart Erling Haaland.

But that much-anticipated showdown never materialised after Norway opted to leave Manchester City star Haaland on the bench.

France forward Ousmane Dembele (right) shoots and scores his team’s third goal while Norway defenders Leo Ostigard (left) and Fredrik Andre Bjorkan brace for impact during their FIFA World Cup Group I football match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday. AFP

Instead it was left to Dembele to grab centre stage from teammate Mbappe, in a potent example of France’s fearsome offensive arsenal.

Norway, who needed a win to leapfrog France into first place, threatened a comeback when Thelo Aasgaard scored after 21 minutes.

But Dembele’s third goal restored France’s two-goal cushion, and although Jorgen Strand Larsen missed a penalty in the 50th minute for Norway, the 2022 World Cup runners-up never looked like surrendering control.

Dembele’s PSG teammate Desire Doue bagged France’s fourth in stoppage time to complete the scoring.

Senegal’s Pape Gueye (left) and Iraq’s midfielder Ibrahim Bayesh fight for the ball during their FIFA World Cup Group I football match at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on Friday. AFP

Dembele later played down the significance of his quick-fire hat-trick, turning his attention to the bigger challenges awaiting in the knockout rounds.

“It’s a unique and important moment for me but I preferred my performances against Senegal or Iraq,” Dembele said.

“I think I was much more influential in those games. I believe we need to stay focused because there are important things ahead.”

Friday’s game had gone ahead against a troubled backdrop for France, with Coach Didier Deschamps leaving the team earlier this week following the death of his mother.

This Norwegian fan, adorned in viking horns, stands in disbelief as France’s Ousmane Dembele pillages her team’s defence. AFP

Both teams meanwhile paid tribute to the victims of the devastating Venezuela earthquake just before kick-off, lining up for a moment of silence.

France will now face one of the eight best third-placed teams in the last 32, while Norway will take on Ivory Coast in Dallas on June 30 for a place in the last 16.

Senegal meanwhile gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the last 32 with a 5-0 drubbing of Iraq in their final group game, boosting their goal difference to win their first points of the tournament.

The west Africans, who have three points, must now wait for the remaining group games elsewhere to play out before learning if they have done enough to squeeze into the knockouts.