Former France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has expressed confidence that Paris St-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele can further elevate his performance during the ongoing tournament. Dembele, who had not previously scored in major international tournaments, has emerged as a key offensive threat, currently contending for the Golden Boot with four goals to his name.

Dembele opened his scoring account with a goal in France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq, followed by a notable first-half hat-trick in the group stage win against Norway, which ended 4-1. Despite these achievements, Desailly noted that Dembele's performances have not been without flaws. He pointed to the match against Senegal as one where Dembele, along with other teammates, faced difficulties on the pitch.

“Once we readjusted for the second half, we were much better and so was Dembele,” Desailly said, highlighting the team’s and Dembele’s improved display in the latter stages of that game. He praised France’s overall performance against Norway, describing it as “magnificent” with strong potential, desire, and chemistry among the players.

Desailly believes that Dembele’s role as a winger for France, contrasted with his position as a ‘false nine’ for PSG, suits him better and provides opportunities for further development. He emphasized Dembele’s skill set, noting his ambidexterity and agility make him exceptionally difficult for defenders to mark.

“Dembele can become even more clinical if he has the desire and the mental focus,” Desailly remarked, expressing optimism about the ability of the 26-year-old forward to refine his game. He called for Dembele to take more initiative in challenging opposing defenders and to continue building on the solid understanding he shares with his teammates.

As France advances through the tournament, attention will remain on Dembele to see whether he can capitalize on his current momentum and translate his potential into consistent high-level performances on the international stage.