Dembélé disappoints as striker against Turkey, set to captain France against Belgium

Ousmane Dembélé failed to convince as a striker in Zinédine Zidane’s first match in charge of France, Friday evening against Turkey in the Nations League. A role Luis Enrique had already entrusted to him at PSG, but which has not produced the same results in a France shirt.

The France number 7 repeatedly dropped deep away from goal, participating in play-building more than 70 metres from the opposition box. Journalist Pierre Ménès gave him a rating of 4/10 on his YouTube channel: “He was deployed as a striker but several times I caught myself thinking ‘what the hell is he doing there?’ He brought nothing to that position. His only good balls came when playing as a right winger.”

The question now arises whether Zidane will stick with this setup Monday evening in Brussels for the second group-stage match against Belgium. Despite his mixed performance, Dembélé is expected to inherit the captain’s armband in the absence of Kylian Mbappé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner and first vice-captain designated by the manager.

Zidane has indeed established a three-tier hierarchy among his vice-captains: Mbappé, Adrien Rabiot and Jules Koundé. It was seniority that guided this choice, placing Dembélé at the top of the list in the absence of the Real Madrid player. A symbolic leadership that will contrast with his insufficient attacking output against the Turks, and which will place additional pressure on his shoulders at the Atomium.