Emmanuel Langelier, Media365, published on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 10:38 am.
Coming onto the pitch in the second half against Portugal, Ousmane Dembele produced a stunning and convincing pass, enough to be voted Man of the Match.
Ousmane Dembélé started the Blues' first three group games (1-0 against Austria, 0-0 against the Netherlands and 1-1 against Poland), and Ousmane Dembélé started the next two games on the bench. Didier Deschamps decided to change things up a bit and organize them against Belgium and Portugal, in the round of 16 and in the quarter-finals. Absent against the Red Devils, the attacking midfielder appeared in the 67th minute against the Seleção after Antoine Griezmann was rested, and we can say that he showed his worth.
Dembele was named man of the match.
He hit Dembélé because he knows how to act on the right, provoked him, dribbled him (6 successful dribbles out of 8), and bothered the Portuguese with his speed. He also shot on goal. And even if he did not score, he touched the edge of the Portuguese goal in the 74th minute. Author of a great entrance in Hamburg, the former member of Borussia Dortmund did well for the Blues and was voted man of the match by UEFA, while we thought instead that the distinction would go to Mike Maignan, author, once again, of several decisive stops. Dembélé also converted the first French “penalty” during the penalty shootout without trembling at all. In the face of the formidable Diogo Costa, who saved three shots in the eighth minute against Slovenia, the Paris Saint-Germain player calmly hit the ground in the middle of the cage and showed his composure. So he made a convincing entrance on Friday and showed legitimate joy. He added: “At the end of the suspense, we are all happy with this victory. I think it was a good game from both teams. “We deserve this victory,” he first told M6.
“We play this way, those who are not happy, that's not my problem”
In the mixed zone, Ousmane Dembélé admitted that he was a little affected when he was relegated to the bench: “It shocked me a little, all the players want to play.” As for the French team's style of play, the Parisian has no complaints. “As for the French team's play, that's how it is. We play like this, those who are not happy, that's not my problem.” Lifted in the semi-finals, he now wants to see far. “When you get to this stage of the competition, you want to continue until the end. Since 2016, this team has come a long way in international competitions, except for 2021, where it was difficult. We have built character, we try to go far every time. These are difficult competitions. We scored three goals but here we are in the semi-finals. It is the solidity of this team that means we are still here today. ” Now off to Spain and Tuesday's meeting in Munich.
