Ousmane Dembélé is still struggling to reproduce for France the kind of performances he regularly delivers at club level. Claude Puel believes the French forward looks “stuck” when playing for Les Bleus and has highlighted the contrast with Désiré Doué, Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki.
Dembélé’s situation continues to raise questions with the French national team. Despite his technical qualities and his ability to turn a game around, the forward does not always have the same impact for France as he does at PSG, where he is capable of scoring spectacular goals. Apart from his hat-tricks at the World Cup, it is true that “Dembouz” can sometimes appear almost invisible.
Puel questions Dembélé’s lack of spontaneity
Speaking to Le Parisien, Claude Puel pointed in particular to the Frenchman’s lack of spontaneity. The former Lille and Saint-Étienne coach feels he is watching a player who looks far less liberated when playing for his country. “He struggles to get into games. When Doué, Olise or Cherki come on, they are players who are full of energy and immediately light up the match,” Puel said. “With Dembélé, you don’t see that same spontaneity. He doesn’t let himself go; it looks like he’s stuck.”
For Puel, the difference is particularly noticeable compared with the new generation now pushing hard for places with Les Bleus. Désiré Doué, Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki quickly bring directness and creativity when introduced, giving Zinédine Zidane plenty of attacking options as competition for places continues to intensify.
For Dembélé, the challenge is therefore clear: rediscover the freedom and unpredictability that make him such a dangerous player. With Doué, Olise and Cherki gradually taking on bigger roles, a highly ambitious new generation is waiting behind him and ready to establish itself permanently with France.
