Zidane criticised for putting Mbappé on the left, Dembélé disappointing

The first matches delivered by Zidane's France have been broadly praised, with three wins and a draw, but some tactical decisions sparked criticism. The overall record is considered satisfactory, while the midfield looks more attacking than under Didier Deschamps.

A controversial repositioning

Zidane chose to reposition Kylian Mbappé on the left flank to free up the central channel for Ousmane Dembélé. The idea was described as “extremely surprising, if not completely crazy,” according to Étienne Moatti on the set of the channel L’Équipe.

Moatti added that Mbappé, a centre‑forward who scores sixty goals a season, is never shifted to the wing in France, and that “in any country, we would simply be delighted to have him in his position.” He called the decision “a bit foolish” and pointed out that Dembélé had shown the limits of this change.

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Consequences and reactions

The experiment was cut short: the Madrid‑based player was injured during the match against Turkey and had to leave the camp, preventing Zidane from seeing his plan through. Moreover, Dembélé was one of the main disappointments, the Ballon d'Or delivering successive underwhelming performances without ever being decisive, unlike Michael Olise or Désiré Doué.

These comments did not sit well with Nabil Djellit, who retorted, “I’m discovering that Étienne knows football better than Zidane.” He reminded that Zidane never makes a mistake, that his idea must be carried out to the end and that Mbappé’s injury simply halted the process.

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Djellit concluded by calling for patience and credit for Zidane, noting that Dembélé still won a Ballon d'Or in that role. Thus, the debate continues between those who see a strategic error and those who defend the new manager’s vision.