France team: Zinédine Zidane discusses Dembélé’s new role

28.09.26 14:45 UEFA Nations League A

Belgium

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France

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Having taken charge of the France team with several strong ideas, Zinédine Zidane has a very specific role in mind for Ousmane Dembélé.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward already knows the role perfectly well at the capital club. Used as a number 9 by Luis Enrique for the past two seasons, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner returned to that position against Turkey under Zinédine Zidane. The France manager deployed him at the spearhead of his attack.

It is a choice that Zizou appears to particularly appreciate, especially because of Dembélé’s work off the ball. In an interview with Téléfoot on Sunday, the former Real Madrid coach explained that he valued his contribution both in possession and in pressing.

“Regarding Ousmane Dembélé’s performance against Turkey? I really appreciated what he did on the pitch, with the ball and especially without it. He was very useful to us in the pressure we applied. We simply think of Ousmane when he has the ball, but it is true that he is capable of doing great things, whether out wide or up front, even without the ball. He is very intelligent when pressing,” the new France coach said of the PSG forward.

Read also: 2026 Ballon d’Or: “this is my best chance”, Harry Kane

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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Belgium

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UEFA Nations League A