Kylian Mbappe was in imperious form as France thrashed Norway 4-1, but it was a bizarre order to the referee that stole the headlines. In the final group match of the tournament, the French captain approached English official Michael Oliver and demanded that his armband be given to a teammate. The incident, described by some as the act of a 'dictator', came as Mbappe led France to a thumping victory that maintained their 100 per cent record. The result set up a last-32 clash with Sweden.
Norway, meanwhile, were without their two biggest stars. Manager Stale Solbakken had dropped top goalscorer Erling Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard for the group stage outing. The decision left the Scandinavian side without their talisman and leader — a gamble that backfired as they were overrun by a rampant France side. Solbakken's choice to bench the pair raised eyebrows, especially given the stakes of the match.
“Mbappe orders ref to pass armband as France rout Norway 4-1; Haaland and Odegaard dropped by Solbakken.”
Mbappe's demand to Oliver added to a night of high drama. Having already scored and orchestrated his team's dominance, the 25-year-old was seen gesturing forcefully to the referee, insisting that the armband be transferred to a teammate. The moment encapsulated a performance that was both brilliant and controversial, leaving fans and pundits divided over the star's leadership style.
France now advance to face Sweden, while Norway must reflect on a defeat that exposed their reliance on two absent stars.