He is Brook for some, Dembouz for others, or quite simply Ousmane. So inevitably, his departure from the group on Monday, after the revelation of an injury to a tendon of the biceps femoris of the right leg, led to sadness among the players and the staff of the France team. According to our information, the Blues and Barça winger could miss up to two months of training and will use his vacation to treat his new tendon injury. This period could even be extended to four months. Especially if the option of the operation is chosen. In the meantime, a whole group is moved by this departure.
“Everyone is very disappointed for Ousmane, because he’s a great guy and a great player,” Lucas Digne whispered at a press conference. He is someone who brings a lot of joy to the group and quality on the pitch. It’s a big disappointment for us. “” There are dribbles, hooks, goals, injuries … but above all there is the man, writes his great friend Antoine Griezmann on his social networks. Another obstacle to overcome on your way but you will come back stronger! I’m sad to see you leave this Euro but know that you will be on the pitch with us. “
A central element of the group’s balance
Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema, Wissam Ben Yedder… The whole team went there with their message of support. No wonder for a player appreciated by all. On the plane, he sits with his lifelong friend Griezmann. At the table, he sits between Mbappé and Benzema. In training, he laughs with everyone. Confusing on the ground, Dembélé offers the Blues quite the opposite: an essential balance over a month or more of gathering. Present at the 2018 World Cup, his role in the French final victory had counted in the privacy of Istra, the Russian base camp.
This year, in Clairefontaine, Munich, then Budapest, it was off again. Didier Deschamps’ staff counted on Dembélé, much more than as a group leader. Entered into play, even briefly, against Germany (1-0), the Norman was chosen to help the Blues to equalize against Hungary (1-1) on Saturday. In his right lane, Dembélé offers a unique profile: that of a dribbler at heart, able to accelerate the pace and put an opponent on the ground in support. His hasty departure deprives Deschamps of an offensive solution, even if Kingsley Coman will certainly be called upon during the game against Portugal.
Still, Dembélé (24 selections) suffers from chronic illness. His muscle injuries kept him away from the Blues from November 2018 to March 2021. Just as they disrupt his career at Barça, club joined in the summer of 2017 for which he played only 118 games in four seasons. This year seemed different for this happy luron in the sometimes criticized food hygiene. Apart from being away from the field in December, his season was complete (44 club appearances) and had convinced Deschamps to call on him again for this Euro. Today, the first disappointed is called Ousmane Dembélé. But there are 25 players, a staff and a few million French who are just as much.
