The World Cup has been totally fascinating this year, with Ronaldo hat-tricks, record numbers of penalties, Maradona behaving strangely and some interesting comments from players and managers alike.
When your team is progressing well through the tournament, the last thing you would expect is for a manager to rock the boat but France manager Didier Deschamps was interviewed just before the World Cup and discussed some points that he must have expected would circulate throughout the World Cup. In particular, he singled out Ousmane Dembele’s behaviour in the previous summer as he forced a move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona. Deschamps referred to the transfer saga as “It was unacceptable behaviour” in reference to Dembele’s refusal to train with Dortmund in order to push through a move.
Bad timing just before World Cup
The timing of coming out with such comments is questionable, given that Dembele is an integral part of the France team. Dembele was an unused substitute against Argentina in a game where his young team mate Mbappe announced his arrival on the big stage. With two goals to his name, he managed to upstage Messi and has paved the way for himself to become the superstar of the next generation. With Ronaldo and Messi out of the World Cup, he looks set to shine in their absence.
Mbappe is outshining Dembele
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8UtkQBfK48
Dembele on the other hand, has not had the kind of World Cup performances that show why he is in the top five most expensive players in the world. His season at Barcelona has not been as successful as he would have hoped for either. Making only 17 appearances and scoring 3 goals, the Barcelona bosses would have hoped for more. The lack of playing time at Barcelona has led to him being linked with a move away from the club, either on loan or a permanent move.
Premier League clubs Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with a move for the young France player but it is unlikely that either of those moves will materialise with Barcelona keen to let him show everyone why they paid so much for the young star.
Will Dembele feature against Uruguay?
France take on Uruguay in the Quarter Finals this afternoon and it is looking like Deschamps will want to stick with the team that did so well against Argentina, although he will need to bring someone in for Blaise Matuidi who will miss the game due to a suspension.
