Zinedine Zidane defends Ousmane Dembele after criticism in win over Belgium
Zinedine Zidane has publicly backed Ousmane Dembele following criticism of his performance as captain during France's 4-1 Nations League win over Belgium.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Raphaël Labbé
Ousmane Dembele faced significant scrutiny following the Nations League clash between France and Belgium. In the absence of Kylian Mbappe, the captain's armband was handed to the PSG winger, but his 60-minute stint proved challenging as he struggled to make a decisive impact.
While the introduction of Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki injected the necessary spark to secure a dominant 4-1 victory, much of the post-match narrative focused on Dembele's failure to register a goal or assist. However, Zinedine Zidane remained firm in his support for the winger.
I found Dembele very good, especially at the start of the match and at the start of the second half. He was very dynamic. No problem on that side. Zinedine Zidane
The coach clarified that substituting his captain on the hour mark was not a critique of his effort or quality. Zidane praised the player's versatility and his ability to maintain exemplary standards for his teammates throughout the match.
This win marks Zidane's first home victory as France manager, solidifying the team's position at the top of Group 1. Les Bleus now look ahead to a challenging November window, featuring a trip to face Italy followed by a home encounter with Turkiye.