England football legend Alan Shearer has slammed Ousmane Dembele as the main culprit in France’s elimination from Euro 2024 on Tuesday night, Soccernet.football reports.
Spain secured a 2-1 victory over France in the semifinals, thanks to goals from teenage star Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo. Despite taking an early lead with Randal Kolo Muani’s header, France couldn’t hold on and missed out on a place in the final.
Kolo Muani’s goal was notably France’s first from open play in this year’s tournament. Before that, Kylian Mbappe’s penalty against Poland was their only other goal scored by a French player, with two additional goals being own goals.
Throughout the match, France created several good opportunities, but their final passes often lacked quality. Dembele was particularly at fault, frequently over-hitting his crosses.
While Mbappe also struggled, Shearer singled out Dembele for criticism, blaming him for France’s poor attacking performance.
Shearer also pointed to Didier Deschamps’ inability to get the best out of his attacking players as a key reason for France’s exit.
“You say only bit in the game, that was his only bit in the tournament. We kept on saying that we were waiting for them to click. Once that happened today for the very first time, where there was a good ball in and someone was actually on the end of it, we were thinking ‘here we go’,” Shearer told BBC Sport as per The Mirror.
“They had the advantage of scoring that goal. I was thinking that might just give them the confidence to go on and do what we thought they might do in front of goal. So many times they were getting into good positions.
“Dembele today was probably more guilty than anyone of getting into good positions. But so frustrating when you get in there that they were delivering balls which were not a good ball and nothing happens.
“I think when you’re in that position, you have to be expected to do better than what he’s done. I was getting frustrated and angry here myself so I can only imagine how they’re feeling out on the pitch.”
Spain will face either England or the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 final.