Ousmane Dembélé faced severe criticism from French sports daily L’Équipe following his performance in a match against Belgium on Monday evening. While the French side secured a 4-1 victory, the win materialized only after Dembélé was substituted off the pitch.
Performance Breakdown Against Belgium
Dembélé started in the French starting lineup but struggled to make an impact during his time on the pitch. According to match statistics cited by the press, he registered five shots—the most of any French player on the night—yet failed to direct a single attempt on target. He lost possession 22 times, the worst statistic of the evening.
Dembélé was removed in the 60th minute, replacing him with Michael Olise. Following the tactical change, the French overturned a 1-0 deficit to dominate the remainder of the fixture and comfortably close out the 4-1 win without Dembélé on the field.
Statistical Contrast Between Reputation and International Reality
L’Équipe did not hold back in its assessment of the forward’s output for the national team, pointing to a widening gap between his reputation and his actual international production. The publication noted that Dembélé has scored 13 goals in 71 appearances for France, describing his output as numbers typical of a supportive squad player.
The French outlet’s harsh verdict labeled his ongoing international career trajectory as an echte ramp
and an ellendige terugkeer
—translating to a real disaster and a miserable return. The publication also noted the immediate impact of his replacement, observing that Belgian defender Joaquin Seys saw more of Michael Olise in thirty minutes than he had of Dembélé throughout the preceding hour.
Upcoming Fixtures for Les Bleus
The French national team will return to action for their remaining fixtures, where the squad will look to maintain momentum in the standings.
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