France’s Desire Doue, left, challenges for the ball with Ukraine’s Oleksii Hutsuliak during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and France at Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
France’s head coach Didier Deschamps waits for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and France at Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
France player Ousmane Dembele, center, and other players on the bench during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and France at Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
France coach Deschamps defends decision to play Demb茅l茅 and Dou茅 after both PSG stars got injured
PARIS (AP) 鈥 France coach Didier Deschamps has defended his decision to play Ousmane Demb茅l茅 and D茅sir茅 Dou茅 in a recent World Cup qualifier, even though both Paris Saint-Germain stars were injured in the game.
France’s Desire Doue, left, challenges for the ball with Ukraine’s Oleksii Hutsuliak during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and France at Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
PARIS (AP) 鈥 France coach Didier Deschamps has defended his decision to play Ousmane Demb茅l茅 and D茅sir茅 Dou茅 in a recent World Cup qualifier, even though both Paris Saint-Germain stars were injured in the game.
They are expected to be out for several weeks and likely to miss title holder PSG’s first two matches of the Champions League, at home to Atalanta and away against Barcelona.
鈥淧SG is not our opponent, it never has been, even if we have interests that may diverge. Our only opponent is Iceland,鈥 Deschamps said Monday ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier. “We did things professionally, progressively, as we do with every player, taking into account how they feel. Unfortunately, this happened and it concerns two PSG players.鈥
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Deschamps was speaking a day after PSG wrote a letter to the French soccer federation complaining about the injuries sustained by Demb茅l茅 and Dou茅 last Friday. PSG鈥檚 letter urgently called for a 鈥 鈥 medical protocol between club and country.
Demb茅l茅 will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a and Dou茅 is out for around four weeks with a calf strain. However, Deschamps insists his medical staff properly assessed both players before allowing them to train and then play against Ukraine.
But Deschamps was asked if PSG’s anger over the two injuries now means he will not risk selecting PSG winger Bradley Barcola against Iceland.
鈥淭hen I will have Bayern calling me (about a player), Real Madrid calling,鈥 Deschamps said, smiling. 鈥淚’m the one who makes the decisions, I have my staff, my responsibilities. I always take into account the players鈥 feelings.鈥 ___
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