Author of PSG’s equalizer against Arsenal shortly after the hour mark, from the penalty spot after a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (65th), to respond to the Gunners’ opening score at the start of the match by Kai Havertz (6th), Ousmane Dembélé was replaced at the end of added time in the second half of the Champions League final, Saturday in Budapest. He was unable to play overtime between the two teams.
The reigning Ballon d’Or requested the substitution in the 93rd minute and was then unable to run. Everyone then imagined a muscular problem for “Dembouz”, which was affected behind the thigh. A small injury to the back of the thigh would have required several weeks of rest as the 2026 World Cup approaches with the France team (June 11-July 19). Achraf Hakimi injured one of his hamstring muscles a month ago during the semi-final second leg against Bayern.
Dembélé finally trotted off when he left the field to be replaced by Gonçalo Ramos (90th + 6). The 29-year-old then explained to his sidelines that he had cramps, according to the Canal+ fieldside journalist.
France-Senegal on June 16
Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaire-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé as well as William Saliba, the Arsenal defender, will join their Blues teammates in the coming days at Clairefontaine. Didier Deschamps should not line them up during the first preparation match against Ivory Coast, next Thursday in Nantes. A second friendly match is scheduled against Northern Ireland the following Monday in Lille.
The Blues play their first World Cup 26 match on June 16 against Senegal, at MetLife Stadium, in the suburbs of New York. Iraq and Norway are the other two opponents of the 2022 world vice-champions in Group I.
