Transparent during the coronation in Russia (two tenures), the FC Barcelona player warned all his observers: "I come back with a little more ambition, telling myself that I can be a starter in this team. I want to start the matches , to be a protagonist of the World Cup, to score, to score," he explained in Doha.

After his promising performance against Australia (4-1), embellished with a decisive pass, the winger was renewed on Saturday at the 974 stadium against Denmark with a new highly appreciated performance, especially during a first sparkling period.

It's a real renaissance: Dembélé had not chained two tenures with the Blues since June 2017... An eternity for this atypical, ambidextrous and unpredictable profile, king of dribbling, acceleration and one-on-one a.

But, in 2022, "Dembouz" arrives launched, after a year and a half at the highest level at Barça, under the benevolent wing of Xavi, his coach who adores him despite a fleeting standoff around his extension. of contract.

This season, the striker has already scored five goals and provided seven assists with the Catalan club.

30 selections

"I remain on a year and a half without injury. I also took a little age, a little more maturity, in my game and outside the field too", he conceded on Wednesday, during a relaxed press conference.

French striker Ousmane Dembélé, at a press conference, November 23, 2022 in Doha FRANCK FIFE AFP

Victim of repeated physical glitches since his fabulous transfer from Dortmund (145 million euros, bonus included) in 2017, the "Mosquito" seems in full possession of his means in Qatar.

On Saturday, his accelerations often left Victor Nelsson and Joakim Maehle behind, his crosses regularly found takers, and his technical gestures sent shivers down the spine of the 5,000 or so French supporters who came to follow the shock of Group D.

The former Stade Rennes player only celebrated his 30th selection on Saturday, more than six years after the first.

And on his counter are only 12 tenures with the tricolor jersey, a sign that Didier Deschamps has often confined him to a substitute role.

Admittedly, the absence through injury of Karim Benzema reduced some of the competition in attack, but still it was necessary to relegate to the bench Kingsley Coman, much more regular with the Blues.

To allow the rise of the former prodigy, Deschamps had to dare to evolve with four attacking players, including Antoine Griezmann, in the more remote role.

Defensive progress

But it also rewards Dembélé's progress in the defensive sector: on Saturday, he was intractable in placement, withdrawal, tackles.

"I saw him recover balls... I watch Barça games from time to time, he defends but not as much! Frankly, today, on the volume of play, he impressed me", smiled Aurélien Tchouaméni, midfielder for the Blues and Real Madrid.

Jules Koundé, aligned as a right-back, also admitted having been "quite a lot of help with defensive work" by his Barça teammate.

Deschamps had already noticed the moult.

"He's a more built, more mature player," he explained on Friday before France-Denmark.

"He always has the ability to create huge problems for the opponent with his speed, his percussion. There are attacking players who are able to defend well. He has improved enormously in this aspect."

Involved, decisive, smiling and always joking, Dembélé remains the same locker room partner, endearing and unifying.

"I like the good atmosphere, that everything goes well. That's why I get on well with everyone. We saw in 2018 that it was the group that won, not individuals. It it is necessary, but above all it takes a united group, which laughs, which rooms, but which is serious when it is necessary to be it”, assured it in front of the press.

So far, "Dembouz" is serious.

© 2022 AFP