Ousmane Dembélé will miss France's November international window, leaving manager Zinédine Zidane with a significant attacking dilemma. The Paris Saint-Germain forward suffered a thigh injury in the Champions League clash against Barcelona and is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks.

This timeline coincides directly with the international break from November 9 to 15, during which Les Bleus face Italy on the 12th and Turkey on the 15th. Zidane is now without a key offensive weapon, a player versatile enough to lead the line or operate from the wing. "We need to occupy the penalty area. We've missed that in almost all four matches," Zidane said.

A gap to fill

Dembélé's injury sparks a debate over how to structure France's attack. Kylian Mbappé, the team's top scorer this season with 10 goals in 8 appearances, is the natural candidate to move into the central striker role. This shift could open spaces for other profiles on the flanks, such as Désiré Doué or Bradley Barcola, who have already impressed at international level. Doué shone in the recent 4-1 win over Belgium on October 5th, scoring a goal and providing two assists.

The team's form provides a solid foundation for these upcoming tests. France are unbeaten in their last four outings, with three wins and a draw. This positive run began with a 1-0 win in Turkey on September 25th, followed by another 1-0 victory in Belgium on September 28th. After a 1-1 draw with Italy on October 2nd, where Michael Olise opened the scoring, Les Bleus secured a comprehensive 4-1 win over Belgium on October 5th, with Rayan Cherki and an Olise brace completing the scoring. The upcoming fixtures schedule shows the trip to Italy on Thursday 12 November will be a key test in maintaining this positive run.

Zidane will also need to monitor the fitness of Manu Koné, whose availability for November remains in question. The France national team, who top their Nations League group, travel to Rome for this key next competitive match, aiming to extend their current momentum.

Background and full detail: Onze Mondial