France facing Dembele dilemma as Mbappe and Olise partnership thrives

Despite a stellar club season that saw him reinvent himself as a pivotal creative force for Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembele appears to be struggling to carve out a definitive role within Didier Deschamps' France squad at the World Cup.

The opening match against Senegal, a 3-1 victory for Les Bleus, only served to highlight this ongoing dilemma.

While France showcased ample attacking prowess to comfortably overcome the African side, Ballon d’Or winner Dembele found himself unable to assert the indispensable presence he commands at club level.

His quest to become a central attacking figure for the national team has been complicated by the burgeoning partnership between Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise.

The Bayern Munich playmaker, Olise, has rapidly developed a potent understanding with Mbappe, their interlinking play driving many of France's most dangerous offensive movements.

Kylian Mbappe stole the show on Tuesday, while Michael Olise was also impressive

Kylian Mbappe stole the show on Tuesday, while Michael Olise was also impressive (Reuters)

This dynamic has largely confined Dembele to the right flank, a stark contrast to the freedom he enjoys at PSG.

In Paris, he operates centrally, dictating attacks and becoming the focal point of the European champions' offensive strategy. For France, however, he was positioned wider on Tuesday, making space for the explosive Mbappe-Olise duo.

As Mbappe and Olise seemingly forge the attacking axis around which France are building their title challenge, Dembele is still searching for his own clear function.

"The key question is what to do with Ousmane Dembele," 1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu told French sports daily L'Equipe.

"How do you position him to get the best out of him and bring out the Dembele we've seen at PSG? So far, whether in the warm-up games or in this opening match, we haven't seen him play with his usual freedom. After a game like this, he'll be sitting there wondering what more he can do."

Dembele has arguably never entered a major tournament in better form, yet his place in the starting XI has rarely seemed less assured.

Deschamps continues to trust his ability to unbalance opponents and create danger, but the challenge for the France coach is becoming increasingly apparent.

It is no longer simply about finding a spot for Dembele, but about defining a role that allows the talented forward to be as influential for France as he has been for PSG. Failure to do so could see the 29-year-old relegated to the bench.

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