The spectacle finale – the highlights in the video
Argentina wins one of the most spectacular World Cup finals in history. France saves with a crazy comeback to penalties. There Lionel Messi crowns his extraordinary career. The highlights in the video.
Criticism poured out in France after losing the World Cup final over Ousmane Dembélé. The striker’s 41-minute appearance was “unworthy”. The renowned “L’Equipe” even denied Dembélé the rating.
Dhe final had not lasted long for Ousmane Dembélé. The 25-year-old striker was sent off after just 41 minutes. Since then, there has been really harsh criticism for the star of FC Barcelona in France. The French sports newspaper L’Equipe even went so far as to deny him a final mark. Not even the six would be enough for the performance, Dembélé is therefore an assessment “unworthy”.
But why? Dembélé conceded a penalty in the 36th minute when he knocked Angel Di Maria off his feet. The striker also dived on offense. As a result, France coach Didier Deschamps had enough after 41 minutes and took the winger off the field along with Olivier Giroud. Substitutes Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani then played much better.
Ousmane Dembélé was substituted before the break in the World Cup final
Quelle: Getty Images/Julian Finney
“L’Equipe” also wrote: “Forty minutes unworthy of a World Cup final. Defensively, the man from Barcelona was far too far away from his direct opponents. He was cornered by Angel Di Maria before committing a questionable foul in the penalty area, causing a penalty. Each of his offensive attempts landed in the opponent’s feet.” The other media in the country had also zeroed in on the winger and criticized him sharply.
Harsh criticism from England too
But not only in France was it raining harsh criticism. This is how England legend Garry Neville settled with Dembélé. He explained to ITV Sport: “It’s pathetic. You know what Di Maria is going to do, he’s been doing it for ten years. It’s just embarrassing. You don’t have to give the penalty, but you do because of your stupidity. Dembélé played like a little boy.”
Former Premier League professional Stuart Pearce even went so far as to judge the French: “No one has ever played as badly as Dembélé.”
