Ousmane Dembélé, the 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and France national team forward, spoke in the mixed zone following Les Bleus’ victory over Morocco in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals on Thursday night.
Dembélé: “We know that playing in a World Cup semi-final is something special.”
How does it feel after the win?
Very happy! We know that playing in a World Cup semi-final is something special. It’s the third one in a row for the French team since I’ve been in the squad, so I’m very happy about qualifying. We knew Morocco would be a tough opponent. We stayed focused throughout the match, even after the penalty. We’re very happy.
You know how to remain patient in the face of adversity; is that a strength?
Of course; the further you go in the competition, the harder the matches become. You’re up against quality players who play for the biggest clubs in the world. We know them well. They are a very serious side. We stayed focused; we knew we could score goals.
Were you surprised by Morocco’s approach?
No, we knew they would play that way. They are a team that likes to play football and has quality players; we aren’t surprised by their abilities. They play very good football.
Dembélé: “We know this is the final four of the World Cup; Spain and Belgium are formidable teams.”
Do you have a preference between Belgium and Spain for the semi-final?
No, we don’t have a preference. We know it will be a tough match; both teams still have a quarter-final to play first. We’ll see who we end up facing. We know this is the final four of the World Cup; Spain and Belgium are formidable teams.
Do you feel you are getting stronger as the competition progresses? I feel very comfortable in this position, which I’m familiar with from the French national team and PSG. I’m hitting my stride in the tournament. I’m happy with my performances, even if I can do a little better. But the team comes first, and we’re going to try to go all the way.
Dembélé: “There’s a lot to improve, both defensively and in attack.”
Surprised by Doué’s performance?
Not really. Désiré Doué has his own qualities. He can play in any position and cause trouble for any opponent. He’s a great asset.
Is there still room for improvement?
There’s a lot to improve, both defensively and in attack. I think we can be even more clinical. We can concede fewer goals and press better. We’ll keep improving as the tournament goes on. We know the semi-final won’t be easy; we’ll need to stay focused.
Dembélé: “Zaïre-Emery? He’s an incredible player who’s a huge asset to any team.”
A word on Zaïre-Emery’s first World Cup match?
I’m very happy for him; he deserves to play. He’s an incredible player who’s a huge asset to any team. We know he’ll get more playing time; he’s going to be an important player for us.
Mbappé managed to score despite the missed penalty?
He’s an incredible player—our captain. He doesn’t have doubts; he has an incredible mindset. We’re very happy for him and look forward to seeing even more goals.
