France won their opening match at the 2026 World Cup 3-1 against Senegal on June 17, with Kylian Mbappe scoring two goals to become France's all-time top scorer at 58 goals [1, 2, 3]. Mbappe’s strong performance contrasted with Ousmane Dembele, who struggled to find a clear role in the team despite his recent success at PSG.

Dembele, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner who has reinvented himself as a central creative force at PSG, played mostly on the right flank for France, a position less suited to his usual freer, more influential style [1, 3]. He was deployed in a No. 10 role during France's recent warm-up games but was ineffective, registering only about 40 touches in the Senegal match—only slightly more than Mbappe’s 37 touches—while failing to make a significant impact on the game [2].

Michael Olise’s rise as a playmaker alongside Mbappe has complicated Dembele's place in the attack, further limiting his opportunities to shine [1, 3]. Former France defender Bixente Lizarazu questioned how the coaching staff can "position him to get the best out of him and bring out the Dembele we've seen at PSG." He added, "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" [1].

France coach Didier Deschamps faces a tactical challenge in unlocking Dembele's potential with the national team and finding a role that allows him to replicate his club-level influence [1, 3]. Meanwhile, Mbappe remains focused despite public criticism and declining popularity since his departure from PSG. He said, "If I start playing just to prove all of my critics wrong and to shut them up, I think I’d have to keep playing until I was 80" [2].

Mbappe has also faced criticism for taking public political stands opposing far-right views in France, with former star Michel Platini telling him, "You are playing for all French people. Once you take a stand, you fall out with half of the world" [2].

France will continue to seek the right attacking balance as their World Cup campaign progresses, with Deschamps under pressure to get maximum output from Dembele amid Mbappe's ongoing scoring threat.