June 19, 2023. Paris. France hosts the Greek national team at the Stade de France. And although everyone expects goals from Mbappe, it is Ousmane Dembele who becomes the main generator of danger this evening. He plays on the right – and from the first minutes begins to torment the opponent’s fullback. Dembele, possessing incredible speed and dribbling, demonstrates all his best qualities. Each of his touches of the ball delights the spectators, and already in the 10th minute he creates the first dangerous moment when, having beaten two defenders, he makes a cross into the penalty area. The French forwards, although they were unable to capitalize on this moment, felt that the match would be dynamic and tense.
The Greeks, realizing the threat from Dembele, begin to show caution. They try to close off his space, but Ousmane is looking for new ways to get around the defense. He uses his feints and speed to create not only a threat, but also space for his teammates. Each of his passes opens up the game, and soon it pays off. In the 25th minute, after another breakthrough by Dembele, he passes the ball to Mbappe, who finally gets the chance to prove himself. Kylian, using speed and technique, gets past the defender and, without thinking, shoots at the goal – the ball goes centimeters from the post. The stadium freezes, but the spectators understand that the team is on the right track. Despite the pressure, the Greek team is not going to give up. They begin to counterattack, trying to catch the French in their mistakes.
With each passing minute, the game becomes more and more tense. Greece tries to organize their attacks, but the French defense does not give them a chance. In the 40th minute, after another quick counterattack, Dembele is once again in the spotlight. He receives the ball on the flank, beats a defender and makes a pass into the penalty area. This time, the central striker, Olivier Giroud, is in place and sends the ball into the net with a turn – 1:0! The stadium explodes with applause. The second half begins in the same spirit. France is actively looking for opportunities to increase their lead. The Greeks, realizing that time is against them, begin to play more aggressively. They try to squeeze the maximum out of every attack, but their efforts are often dashed by a reliable defense and excellent work by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Dembele continues to put pressure on the defenders. His movements are becoming more unpredictable, and he creates a new dangerous situation. In the 70th minute, he receives the ball on the corner of the penalty area, elegantly beats an opponent and takes a shot – the ball flies to the corner of the goal, but at the last moment the Greek goalkeeper saves his team. The Greek team tries to organize a final assault at the end of the match. They understand that they need to score to save the game. But the French confidently hold the defense and use every chance to counterattack. In the 85th minute, after a quick combination, Dembele again finds himself in the center of events. He penetrates the penalty area and passes to Mbappe, who, without thinking, sends the ball into the goal – 2:0! Thus, the match ends with a confident victory for the French team. Ousmane Dembele becomes the star of the evening, his play inspires the team and pleases the fans. This evening in Paris will be remembered not only as a match, but also as a triumph of talent and teamwork.
Until the end of the first half, he literally breathes at full speed: he dribbles, takes risks, but almost never makes mistakes. His dribbling is not for the sake of beauty, but for the result. He destroys the opponent’s structure. He changes flanks with Mbappe, but it is from his side that the greatest threat comes. Each of his appearances on the attack line delights the spectators. He not only dribbles the defenders, but also constantly looks for opportunities to pass. From time to time, he demonstrates his ability to create moments that baffle the Greek defense. Mbappe, realizing that Dembele is at his best this evening, often uses his movements to create his own space. Together, they form a dynamic duet, forcing the opponent to lose concentration. In the 30th minute of the match, after another breakthrough, Ousmane receives the ball on the flank and, without hesitation, accelerates, overtaking the defender.
The Greeks, realizing that their defense is cracking at the seams, begin to hurry. Their players begin to foul to stop the onslaught of the French, but this only gives Mbappe’s team a chance at set pieces. In the 38th minute, after a foul on Dembele, France is awarded a free kick. The situation is heating up: Zinedine Fernandez approaches the ball. His precise shot forces the Greek goalkeeper to show all his skills, but he manages to pull the ball out of the corner – applause rings out in the stands. At the break, the coach of the French team, seeing how well Dembele is playing, emphasizes his importance to the team. He calls on the other players to maintain the pace and not relax. The Greek national team, in turn, understands that something needs to change to stop the onslaught of the French. The coach makes substitutions, introducing fresh forces into the defense, hoping that this will help maintain the result. The second half begins with a new wave of attacks from the French.
Dembele continues to operate on the flank, and his activity does not subside. In the 50th minute, he receives the ball again, beats the opponent and makes a pass to the center. Mbappe, being ready, tries to shoot, but the Greek defenders act in a coordinated manner and prevent a goal. However, the French team does not stop. Each new approach to the opponent’s goal becomes more and more dangerous. In the 65th minute, after a quick counterattack, Dembele again finds himself on the ball. He makes a sharp dash, dribbles past the defender and, being in the penalty area, shoots – the ball hits the post, and only then flies out into the field. The fans freeze with excitement, and Ousmane, not losing hope, boldly goes on the attack again. The Greeks, realizing that they need to act decisively, begin to attack more often. But each of their attempts at Lloris’s goal ends unsuccessfully. The French defense, led by Varane, reliably closes all the passages.
In the last minutes of the match, the tension increases. Greece begins to act more aggressively, trying to squeeze the maximum out of each attack. But the French players, thanks to good physical training and tactical skills, confidently control the game. Dembele, under pressure, makes an incredible dash, beating several defenders at once. His speed and technique arouse admiration among the fans. In the 85th minute, when the game is already nearing its end, Dembele receives the ball on the flank, makes a penetrating pass to Mbappe, who, without thinking, sends the ball into the net. The score becomes 2:0. The stadium is filled with cries of joy, and the French fans begin to sing their team’s anthem in a single burst. The match is coming to an end, and despite the efforts of the Greeks, they cannot turn the tide of the game.
After the World Cup, where Dembele was useful but not spectacular, this match was a rethink. He became himself again – bold, creative, inconvenient for opponents. Yes, he can lose the ball. But in return, he creates chaos, from which goals are born. Every dribble, every run down the flank created tension in the Greek defense. He is no longer afraid to take risks, does not think about the consequences. His confidence is back, and it is noticeable in his every move. In this match, he is not just a player – he is a real catalyst that changes the course of events on the field. In the first half of the game, Dembele uses his strengths to create not only chances, but also the mood in the team. His energy is transmitted to his teammates, they begin to act more boldly, which, in turn, creates additional opportunities for attacks.
After he opened the scoring, his confidence increased even more. Dembele begins to interact more with Mbappe, they understand each other perfectly. Their combinations become more and more sophisticated, and the Greek defenders cannot keep up with their movements. In the 55th minute, after one of these combinations, Dembele gets an opportunity to shoot at the goal, but his shot is blocked by a defender. However, this moment only spurs him on. Each new pass by Ousmane becomes more and more dangerous. He beats one defender, then another, and each time creates new opportunities for his teammates. In the 70th minute, he makes a great pass to Giroud, who, being in a good position, tries to shoot, but the ball hits the defender again.
