Ousmane Dembélé

Analysis: Dembele endured a frustrating afternoon in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Senegal, never quite finding his rhythm as his touch and decision-making let him down in a sluggish first half before he was replaced by Bradley Barcola in the 80th minute. He was unable to produce the type of game-changing moments that have fueled his recent club success, with Senegal's disciplined defensive shape giving him very little room to operate. France will need a bigger impact from the Ballon d'Or winner moving forward, as one shot and 26 passes from a player of his creative caliber won't get the job done against stronger competition.

Jun 9, 2026

Set for No.10 role

Dembele had a difficult 62 minutes outing in Monday's 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland as France fine-tune their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, though the Ballon d'Or is expected to start as the number 10 behind Kylian Mbappe and alongside Michael Olise in France's attacking lineup.

Analysis: Dembele arrives at the World Cup fresh from lifting the Champions League trophy with PSG, having scored the crucial penalty in the final against Arsenal before being replaced late due to cramps. The Ballon d'Or brings directness, creativity and a relentless pressing intensity in the front line that makes him one of the most dangerous attackers in the tournament, and coach Didier Deschamps will be hoping his uneven display against Northern Ireland was simply a matter of match sharpness rather than any lingering physical concern ahead of France's opener against Senegal on June 16.

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