Jean-Michel Larqué criticises France for not using Ousmane Dembele natural position, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, calling the tactic a mistake

Former France midfielder Jean-Michel Larqué, speaking in an interview cited by MCSport on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, has launched a strong criticism of the French national team, accusing Les Bleus of mismanaging Ousmane Dembele natural position France deployment ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Larqué argued that France are failing to utilise the Ballon d’Or-winning forward effectively, insisting that the team is not playing Dembele in his most productive central attacking role despite his outstanding form at club level.

He claimed France are unique among top footballing nations in not positioning their best attacking talent where they can maximise impact, describing the tactical approach in forceful terms during his comments.

Larqué also questioned France’s attacking structure, suggesting a frontline configuration that would place Michael Olise on the right, Dembele centrally, and Kylian Mbappe on the left, arguing that such an arrangement would better reflect the players’ natural strengths.

The former midfielder expressed frustration that Dembele’s role continues to be debated despite his strong performances for Paris Saint-Germain, where he recorded 20 goals and 11 assists across 40 appearances in the previous campaign.

He added that the decision-making around player positioning risks undermining France’s attacking potential at a crucial stage of their World Cup preparations, with the team set to begin their campaign against Senegal on June 16.

Dembele’s form has been widely praised following an impressive season in which he played a key role in PSG’s domestic and European campaigns, further intensifying debate over his optimal role for the national team.

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France head into the tournament among the favourites, but Larqué’s comments have added fresh scrutiny to tactical decisions within the squad as anticipation builds for their opener.