Zidane bets on the Mbappé‑Dembélé duo, but the striker remains isolated
In his first match in charge of France, Zinedine Zidane immediately relied on the Mbappé‑Dembélé duo, but the Real Madrid striker, injured on Friday evening, was ruled out for the next three games, leaving the manager searching for balance.
Zidane's debut, the good and the less good
Zinedine Zidane led France for the first time, a match where the good and the less good rubbed shoulders. The new boss of the French team, pressed by the calendar, had little time to install his initial ideas. He nevertheless relied on the Mbappé‑Dembélé duo, considered the key to creation.
The work of the tricolour captain quickly fueled post‑match debates. Some observers praised his involvement, while others pointed out gaps in his link‑up with teammates. This polarization reflected the high expectations placed on the player.
This Sunday, journalist Giovanni Castaldi reviewed the performance of the Real Madrid striker. Appearing on the Téléfoot L’After set, he adopted a more conciliatory tone than usual. He highlighted that, despite recurring criticism, the match had positive aspects.
In his analysis, Castaldi said: “When we talk about a duo, an association, sometimes there were three‑man sequences with Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé where there were extremely interesting movements. Afterwards, I don’t find it very serious that Kylian Mbappé is disconnected from the others.”
Tactical analysis inspired by PSG
Castaldi also linked it to Luis Enrique’s work at Paris Saint‑Germain. He explained that the press, the right‑oriented pressure zones and the combinations in tight spaces with Olise and Cherki create a turnover towards Mbappé, who gains speed and benefits from one‑on‑one duels, a pattern he finds interesting.
He nevertheless reiterated his reservations about Mbappé’s style. “I don’t like it when Mbappé drops too deep, when he touches too many balls. I prefer when he makes runs, when he takes the depth and is lethal,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for a more decisive presence.
To conclude, Castaldi advocated giving more of the game to Dembélé, Cherki and Olise, and called on Zinedine Zidane to find an organisational balance. He added that he did not expect an exceptional connection between the two, especially with Mbappé injured and absent from the next three matches of the gathering.