France Legend Bixente Lizarazu Backs Ousmane Dembele To Succeed In Striker Role

Speaking on the set of Téléfoot, Bixente Lizarazu made a point of highlighting the Paris forward's unheralded yet crucial impact on the national team setup. The former defender believes Ousmane Dembélé sets the tone from the front with aggressive pressing that disrupts the opposition's build-up play right from the first line.

The contrast with his efficiency at Paris Saint-Germain remains striking. Following the 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday, October 2, 2026, in the UEFA Nations League, Ousmane Dembélé's overall record with France stands at 13 goals in 68 caps. Those figures naturally fuel high expectations around his finishing.

Deploying him centrally represents a bold tactical choice fully backed by Zinédine Zidane. The France manager has started Ousmane Dembélé as his centre-forward in his first 3 matches at the helm, reinforcing the 29-year-old attacker in a role he genuinely relishes.

The dynamic shifts now with the absence of Kylian Mbappé, who picked up an injury during the trip to Turkey and is sidelined for 3 matches with Les Bleus. To offset the loss of a captain boasting 67 goals and 39 assists, Ousmane Dembélé must take a major step forward and lead the French attack. At the Parc des Princes, supporters know all too well what it means when an attacker has to shoulder the entire front line. It is up to him to bring that same authority to the national side over the coming international fixtures before returning to league action against Le Mans on Saturday, October 10, 2026.