Zidane launches Mbappé‑Dembélé duo despite rising tensions

On Friday evening, for his first match in charge of the French national team, Zinedine Zidane fielded the Mbappé-Dembélé duo up front against Turkey, but the two forwards do not appear to be reconciled. This decision marks his big debut on the bench, and already raises questions about the harmony within the squad.

Tense relations

The two players would not be reconciled, the relationship being described as damaged despite the lack of an official clash. Daniel Riolo considers their behaviour a bit childish, recalling that they could have settled everything at Clairefontaine. « If at that age‑that, at this level of competition, while you’ve known the guys for years, you’re not able to go say: ‘I didn’t like what you said’, and the other ‘sorry’, and explain each other for something like that… », he said.

Dembélé no longer wants to be the “little” one of Mbappé, which suggests a deeper problem. For a year now, Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner, can no longer tolerate being treated as the little brother by Real Madrid star Ousmane Dembélé. This dynamic fuels tensions within the French attack.

Jules Koundé quells rumours of a rift between Mbappé and Dembélé

After France’s 0‑1 victory, defender Jules Koundé tried to defuse the issue. « It’s part of life. I think they are both big enough to resolve a problem if there is one. But the group is doing well. Personally, I don’t see any tension in the squad », he told TF1’s microphone.

Kylian Mbappé had to leave the French squad’s gathering, halting the saga. The situation therefore remains in limbo, the Mbappé-Dembélé case being put on standby.

Mbappé is injured after scoring France's only lead in Turkey