Ousmane Dembélé, wey win Ballon d’Or, dey face serious wahala for French national team. Di winger wey shine for Paris Saint-Germain no fit replicate dat form for Les Bleus. For im last two appearances against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland, fans and pundits don criticise am heavy, some even dey call for am to drop from World Cup squad.
But coach Didier Deschamps no dey shake. Dembélé remain untouchable for im plans and go start for France World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16. For 59 caps, Dembélé don score only 7 goals. Injuries don trouble am plenty, including serious one before Euro 2021. For 2022 World Cup final against Argentina, dem substitute am before half-time.
Di main issue na role. For PSG, Dembélé play as false nine wey get freedom to drift inside. For France, everything revolve around Kylian Mbappé. Di Real Madrid star occupy spaces between lines, wey affect where Dembélé dey most dangerous. Despite sharing dressing room for years, di pair never really click for international stage.
Return to right wing no be option because Michael Olise don claim dat spot. Olise, wey be one of di most in-form players for world, don reach new level, especially after im hat-trick against Northern Ireland. Deschamps try 4-2-3-1 formation for friendlies, but Dembélé still dey find ideal role to fit im PSG form, where im help club win back-to-back Champions League titles.
Jean-Michel Larqué, for RMC Sport, express frustration: “I would like see Mbappé play 45 minutes for preparatory matches for im best position. You fit field Olise for right, Dembélé for middle, and Mbappé for left. Na forbidden? We dey sacrifice Ballon d’Or winner. We be only country wey no dey play Ballon d’Or for im natural position. I fear we dey look like stupidest.”
But Deschamps no dey consider moving Mbappé. As captain, im suppose play for im preferred position. Deschamps tok: “He dey play di role wey im don occupy for last three years for PSG and Real Madrid.” So na Dembélé wey suppose adapt for collective good, not Mbappé.
Dembélé Ballon d’Or victory don increase im influence for squad. Im become one of dressing room leaders and even encourage Mbappé to increase defensive work rate for World Cup glory. But dat leadership no don translate to pitch performance for France.
World Cup start June 16 against Senegal, and France don reach Boston. Deschamps still get time to fine-tune system wey go accommodate all key players, especially Dembélé, wey im role remain one of di team most difficult puzzle to solve.
