Gary Neville labelled France forward Ousmane Dembele as ‘pathetic’ after the former Liverpool and Arsenal transfer target gave away a penalty against Argentina at the World Cup final on Sunday in Qatar.
The former Manchester United defender thinks the Barcelona winger, who was linked with possible transfers to Liverpool and Arsenal in previous windows, got ‘played like a little boy’ by Angel di Maria.
After picking up the ball on the left channel, di Maria faked to cross on his left foot, before cutting inside and darting into the box, with Dembele chasing his shadow and proceeding to foul him from behind.
It was the perfect start from Argentina because Lionel Messi converted from the spot, before di Maria himself was doubling his side’s lead before the break – the game was headed to what looked like a simple win for the South American side, before it exploded into one of the greatest games of them all and Lionel Scaloni’s side won the game on penalties after a 3-3 draw after extra-time.
Nonetheless, what was even worse for Dembele is that he was hooked off before half-time, alongside Olivier Giroud, by Didier Deschamps and Neville was critical of the player, as he told ITV Sport.
“It was pathetic,” said Neville. “To be fair, di Maria his position and his selection. Well done to the Argentina manager. Genius selection. It stretched Kounde. It stretched that French team.
“But the penalty, Dembele I know he’s a wide player, but honestly, his initial challenge, you know what di Maria is going to do. He has been doing this for ten years. Faking to cross.
“It’s embarrassing. I am torn on this one. I think it’s a soft penalty to give yourself a goal at a World Cup. But also the stupidity when you get on the wrong side and you do that, then you deserve to be found out. And Dembele gets found out. Dembele gets played like a little boy.”
A GAME TO FORGET FOR DEMBELE
This was a pure disaster for Dembele!
In the end, this proved to be very, very costly because he provided Argentina with that cushion at the start, before Kylian Mbappe’s stunning hat-trick sent the game to extra-time and spot-kicks.
He deserved to be hooked off when he did, but whilst this match will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, it’s one Dembele and his French teammates will one to forget pretty quickly.
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