League: LaLiga Sport: Soccer Country: France Category: Scores & Results

Zinédine Zidane defends Ousmane Dembélé amid ongoing scrutiny

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 5, 2026, 8:30 AM

Last updated Oct 5, 2026

Zinédine Zidane defends Ousmane Dembélé amid ongoing scrutiny

Summary

France manager Zinédine Zidane has come to the defense of Ousmane Dembélé as he faces criticism during the international break. Dembélé has not scored in France's three matches, including a recent 1-0 win over Turkiye. Reports suggest tension with teammate Kylian Mbappé, which may have affected Dembélé's performance. Zidane emphasized Dembélé's unique playing style and his potential impact against Belgium in the final match of the break. The team looks for improvement ahead of their next game on Monday.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Ousmane Dembélé has not scored in three matches for France.
•France won 1-0 against Turkiye in Zidane's first game as coach.
•Kylian Mbappé's relationship with Dembélé appears strained.
•Zidane praised Dembélé's playing style ahead of the match against Belgium.
•France's next match is set for Monday.

Latest Updates

8:30 AMYahoo Sports — France manager Zinédine Zidane defends under-fire Ousmane Dembélé

What they're saying

"
Coming into this international break, there was a lot of noise surrounding Ousmane Dembélé. The Ballon d’Or winner’s relationship with Kylian Mbappé has reportedly turned a little “frosty” ...
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Real Madrid Atletico Madrid Paris Saint-Germain LaLiga Soccer