Dembélé's poor form undermines Zidane's project
Ousmane Dembélé held a major role in Zinedine Zidane's early plans. The manager had even agreed to move Kylian Mbappé to place the former Parisian in the centre. However, his offensive output does not yet justify this privileged treatment.
Disappointing offensive statistics
Dembélé was used as a false number 9 against Turkey and Italy, before returning to the right side against Belgium. These various experiments did not allow him to become the hoped‑for threat. In 261 minutes played under Zidane, the striker accumulated only 0.25 expected goals. This figure indicates that the chances created by Dembélé represented just a quarter of an expected goal.
His influence in the build‑up therefore does not compensate for his limited presence in the finishing zones. On several crosses, he also found himself isolated, without partners close enough to draw the opposition defence. Dembélé obviously cannot bear the responsibility alone. Zidane never fielded the same attacking trio twice, which hampered the chemistry.
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Mbappé's premature departure also deprived Les Bleus of their most capable scorer to create a chance with a burst of pace or an individual move. Mbappé will now return to the centre. Zidane announced that his captain will play again in his “preferred position”, as a striker. This adjustment necessarily weakens Dembélé, now competing on the flanks with Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola and even Éli Junior Kroupi.
To retain a central role in the project, he will need to become much more dangerous again. His status does not seem threatened by a mere impression, but by a factor that is particularly hard to ignore.