Désiré Doué to replace Ousmane Dembélé as France’s number nine in Belgium? | OneFootball

Désiré Doué to replace Ousmane Dembélé as France’s number nine in Belgium? | OneFootball

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·27 September 2026

Désiré Doué to replace Ousmane Dembélé as France’s number nine in Belgium?

Article image:Désiré Doué to replace Ousmane Dembélé as France’s number nine in Belgium?

Zinédine Zidane could start Désiré Doué at centre forward instead of Ousmane Dembélé when France visit Belgium in the Nations League on Monday at 20:45.

According to L'Équipe, Zidane is not usually one for eve-of-match tactical work, but with so few sessions available he has been using them to drill his side.


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Sunday night's run-through featured a surprising, mixed line-up, and the manager said there would be changes.

From that session, it looked possible that Doué would lead the line as number nine in place of Dembélé. Zidane also said at his press conference that the France Football Ballon d'Or winner would not start every match.

A probable XI emerged: Maignan, Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, Truffert or Diouf, Cherki, Camavinga, Rabiot, Olise, Doué, Barcola.

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”

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