France's New Frontline: Mbappe and Dembele Ready to Lead Deschamps' Bold Plan
5 October 2025
France's new front line: Deschamps puts Mbappe and Dembele at the center
France’s head coach Didier Deschamps revealed he is testing a fresh system that pairs Kylian Mbappe with Ousmane Dembele as a central striking tandem, leveraging their pace and creativity for the national team.
Speaking on TF1's Telefoot, Deschamps indicated he can rely on the Mbappe–Dembele combination in the lead role, signaling a willingness to let the two players operate together at the front of the attack.
Deschamps also stressed Mbappe’s standing, describing him as among the best pure forwards in world football during this period.
France, the two-time world champions (1998 and 2018), are set for two matches this month: they host Azerbaijan and then travel to Iceland on October 10 and 13 for European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Deschamps' side sit top of Group D with six points from six as of now, with Iceland on three and Ukraine and Azerbaijan on one apiece. A win in both games could seal qualification early and push France to twelve points.
Mbappe’s status
L'Equipe has reported that Mbappe will rejoin the squad on Monday despite a minor right ankle sprain sustained in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Villarreal, a result that also showed his ongoing blistering form.
Mbappe, France’s captain, left the Santiago Bernabeu for the dressing room shortly after scoring the third, a goal crafted by Ibrahim Diaz, before continuing his celebrations away from the pitch.
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso said he hopes the injury is not serious and that the forward should not be risked unless fully fit, emphasizing the need to protect him for the bigger picture.
Mbappe has been prolific this season, tallying his 11th goal in his last seven appearances for Madrid, bringing his league tally to nine and 14 in all competitions for the club, averaging around 1.4 goals per game this season.
Dembele’s absence
By contrast, Dembele remains out with a right thigh muscle injury and will miss Lille as Ligue 1 resumes this weekend.
The forward is recovering in Doha after an injury suffered during a France–Ukraine qualifier in early September, with a six-week recovery window noted and a plan to rejoin later after the international break.
Dembele is expected to return to action after the international window, with potential involvement against Bayer Leverkusen on October 21 in the Champions League’s group stage.
Prior to the injury, Dembele had contributed two goals and two assists in four matches across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Mbappe and Dembele with France
Mbappe began his France career in March 2017, quickly becoming a central figure after his breakthrough season with Monaco. Since then he has earned 92 caps, scoring 52 goals and providing 38 assists, and is now nine goals away from overtaking the all-time top scorer for France.
Dembele debuted in September 2016, tallying seven goals and four assists in 57 appearances. He was part of the 2018 World Cup-winning squad and contributed to France’s runner-up finish in 2022, as well as a bronze in Nations League 2024-25.
Mbappe leads France as captain since early 2023 after retirements of several veteran stars, while Dembele remains a key attacking outlet. Together, they could symbolize a new era for the D p;France’s offensive approach as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
If the Mbappe–Dembele partnership clicks, the French attack could reach new heights with Mbappe’s scoring prowess and Dembele’s dribbling and playmaking around the box.
Humor time: If this plan hits its stride, expect opposing defenses to need a GPS just to track the duo. And if the plan falters, Deschamps can always go with Plan C: a baguette in midfield and a few extra minutes of extra time to think about it.
Punchline time: If Mbappe and Dembele click, the only thing faster than their sprint will be the ball slipping past defenders. And if that fails, France can always rely on the baguette attack to crack open a defense—crispy, but still a touch unfair to the goals.
