France manager Didier Deschamps launched a passionate defense of his decision to play Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele after the Ballon d’Or nominee suffered an injury setback in Friday’s 2-0 win over Ukraine.
Les Bleus cruised to a comfortable victory at the Stadion Miejski in Ukraine with Bayern Munich wide man Michael Olise and Real Madrid star man Kylian Mbappe each finding the back of the net either side of half time.
However, France’s victory was tainted by Dembele’s injury setback as the PSG star, who only substituted on at the start of the second half, appeared to pull his hamstring in the final ten minutes of the game.
Prior to arriving at the French national team camp, Dembele struggled with a similar issue during PSG’s league game before the international break and those in charge of the Paris-based club are furious with Deschamps’ decision to play him against Ukraine.
Speaking after the game, Deschamps explained that there had been no fitness concerns over Dembele, otherwise, he would not have deployed the 2025 Champions League winner.
“If he wasn’t fit, I wouldn’t bring him in,” Deschamps stressed.
“In addition, it was not the same thigh. Unfortunately for him it happened, it can happen to someone who has had nothing before.
“But if I bring him in, he’s fit… otherwise I would have brought in another player. But because of what he thought about himself and the medical situation, there was not the slightest apprehension.”
Deschamps suggested that Dembele is unlikely to feature in France’s upcoming qualifier against Iceland at the Parc des Princes, with the visitors sitting top of Group D after a commanding 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan in their opener.
PSG, meanwhile, will be eager to have the winger back in action for their Ligue 1 clash with Lens on September 14, before crucial Champions League fixtures against Atalanta and Barcelona ahead of the next international break.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
