Ousmane Dembélé Reportedly Closing In On France Bench Role Under Zinédine Zidane

The latest France national team camp exposed stark contrasts across the forward line. Across 261 minutes on the pitch over 4 matches, Ousmane Dembélé drew a blank with 0 goals and 0 assists. The exact same drought struck Bradley Barcola, who finished without a single goal or assist in 174 minutes across 4 matches. Meanwhile, Estéban Lepaul also remained stuck on 0 goals and 0 assists over 159 minutes in 3 matches.

In sharp contrast, Michael Olise ripped through opposing backlines with 4 goals and 2 assists in 4 matches. Alongside him, Désiré Doué turned heads by racking up 1 goal and 2 assists against Belgium. That ruthless cutting edge has radically shaken up the hierarchy for the Les Bleus coaching staff.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner failed to leave his mark in the final third, whether deployed centrally or stationed on the right flank. Head coach Zinédine Zidane made sure to highlight his high pressing, clever movement, and flawless attitude. Yet those defensive shifts can no longer conceal a recurring lack of end product in front of goal.

According to Vincent Duluc of L’Équipe, a tactical reshuffle across the frontline could soon take shape for France. The tactical plan would see Michael Olise deployed on the right flank, Kylian Mbappé shifted into the middle as the centre-forward, and Désiré Doué operating on the left wing. The captain of Les Bleus also delivered 1 goal in 1 match during his solitary appearance of the international break.

Such a move would reduce Ousmane Dembélé to the role of a substitute as early as the international fixtures scheduled for November 2026. On the pitch, everything came down to making the most of key attacking spells. The Paris Saint-Germain forward must quickly rediscover his spark to avoid seeing this luxury super-sub status become a permanent fixture on the international stage.