Dembélé sacrificed despite two assists wasted by Mbappé against Senegal

Ousmane Dembélé left the pitch at half-time of France-Senegal (3-1) on Tuesday under a barrage of criticism. Yet the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner had delivered two high-quality passes to Kylian Mbappé, which the Real Madrid striker failed to convert.

France’s first half was laboured, and it was Dembélé who paid the price. Didier Deschamps chose to reposition Michael Olise in the centre in his place, an adjustment that transformed the team’s appearance in the second half. Named man of the match, the Bayern Munich winger provided the assist for Mbappé’s opening goal.

But the reading of the first period could have been quite different. Dembélé set up Mbappé on two occasions with incisive passes, including one through the Senegal defence comparable in quality to Olise’s. The first time, Mbappé mistimed his control, the ball slipping under his foot; the second time, he was denied by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. Had either of these two chances been converted, Dembélé’s first-half performance would have been judged very differently.

This scenario raises a recurring question about the PSG winger: why does his output for France remain so far removed from what he delivers at club level? The answer, at least for this match, lies partly in the missed opportunities by his teammate.

Dembélé must now contend with a role on the right flank, far from the centre where Olise has established himself. A relative sidelining, but less severe than the one he suffered at the 2018 World Cup, when he was benched from the second match after a poor substitute appearance against Australia.