Dembele

Ousmane Dembele had a World Cup final to forget as he was subbed off five minutes before half-time by France having conceded a penalty for Argentina's ...

[Dembele](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/ousmane-dembele) was [torn to shreds by British pundits](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ousmane-dembele-france-world-cup-28763079) for his calamitous role in a disastrous first half for Les Bleus. [Have Your Say!](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ousmane-dembele-world-cup-final-28769694#comments-section) What did you make of Dembele’s final performance? I'm torn between one, I think it's a soft penalty but also stupidity and to get on the wrong side, you deserve to be found out. The penalty, I have to say, Dembele, although he’s a wide player, what he does, this initial challenge… Di Maria's position, well done to the manager, it's a genius selection, it's stretched that French team. "[Alexis] Mac Allister has been in that pocket, they’ve (France) not been able to cope with it. Offensively, all of his first checks ended up at the opposing feet.” Argentina targeted France's right flank, with Jules Kounde not a natural right-back and Dembele offering minimal defensive protection. Messi has come to the right-hand side. Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram were introduced for Dembele and Olivier Giroud. It was a forgettable 41-minute cameo role for the [Barcelona](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fc-barcelona) forward, who [was widely criticised for his performance](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ousmane-dembele-world-cup-final-28763154). [World Cup final](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/world-cup-final) as he gave away a penalty and was hooked before the break in France’s [dramatic defeat against Argentina](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/breaking-argentina-france-worldcup-final-28762994).

France's head coach, Didier Deschamps, has opened up on why he took Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele off the pitch before half-time in the 2022 World.

“That doesn’t mean the players who went off were more guilty than the others,” Deschamps told reporters of his decision to remove the two players before the interval. “We didn’t do the right things for an hour, but then with a lot of courage, energy and quality, we pushed Argentina to the limit. Les Bleus went two goals down against Argentina after Lionel Messi converted from the spot before Angel Di Maria doubled their lead in the 36th minute.

France boss Didier Deschamps has explained why he substituted Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele before half-time in the 2022 World Cup final.

Gary Neville claimed that Ousmane Dembele "played like a little boy" after the France star was taken off before half-time in the World Cup final.

Angel Di Maria also scored before the interval to give Argentina a 2-0 lead, which they held until the final ten minutes of normal time, only for The 25-year-old Barcelona winger will no doubt be frustrated with himself given his performance. Dembele, I know he's a wide player but honestly, his initial challenge...

Ousmane Dembele, who did not put in a particularly good performance in the World Cup final, when the French side lost against Argentina, has received a lot ...

With what remains of the season, it will be vital he does not let this get to him so he can refind his best level which allowed him to start several games when it was not for injuries which kept him out. Dembele was going from strength to strength with Xavi, so his bad performance in the World Cup final is a worrying slip-up. To be fair, he was not winning the one-on-ones, and did not manage to get forward with the ball.

SportsBrief.com News - French Media outfit L'Equipe didn't hold back their criticism of Ousmane Dembele and Oliver Giroud following their performance in the ...

[Barcelona](https://sportsbrief.com/football/barcelona/) player’s showings for forty minutes were unworthy of a World Cup final. [Caught Offside](https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/12/19/dembele-giroud-lequipe-player-ratings/#:~:text=surprise%20that%20those%20two%20players%20were%20Ousmane), both Dembele and [Giroud](https://sportsbrief.com/tag/olivier-giroud/) were not given a score in L’Equipe’s post-match player ratings, as they decided the two players were not worthy of that consideration. [Argentina](https://sportsbrief.com/facts/teams/16181-argentina-national-football-teams-players-coach-fifa-world-rankings-world-cup-more/) while Giroud barely had a touch of the ball, before both players were substituted in the first half after France had gone 2-0 down.

France boss Didier Deschamps has explained why he substituted Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele before half-time in the 2022 World Cup final.

[fell two goals down against Argentina early on](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/deschamps-lost-bit-of-finger-world-cup-final-half-time-rant-france-regrets-penalty-argentina/blt8edbd1a39163162c), with Lionel Messi converting from the spot before Angel Di Maria fired home in the 36th minute. [unable to convert their efforts](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-montiel-wins-shootout-messi-argentina-world-cup-final-france/bltadcb447f18994d35) in a thrilling shootout and [Argentina talisman Messi was left to walk away with the ultimate prize](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-messi-lifts-world-cup-trophy-argentina-thrilling-penalty-shootout-france-goat/blt38b30d6ba3692fc1). If I made those changes so early, it’s because I was not satisfied and I felt convinced we could do better.