Cole's a different class! Palmer pounds FOUR past Brighton

Follow GOAL's WhatsApp channel now!

Scenes! Heroic Trossard helps wasteful Arsenal survive big scare

Wasteful Bruno is becoming a big problem for Man Utd

Gvardiol & Grealish impress but City need more from Gundogan

Endrick vows to apologise to Madrid team over Alaves actions 

Kompany has Bayern purring as Kane eyes end to trophy curse

Szczesny & six players who came back out of retirement

'We all make mistakes' - Maresca makes Chilwell admission

Best young players to buy on EA Sports FC 25 💰

Nike clarify Greenwood sponsorship confusion after Marseille game

'We want to annoy them' - Xhaka sends warning to Bayern

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Dembele receives criticism for Euros form</li><li>Failed to make impact in first two games</li><li>Tchoumeni defends Dembele</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Ousmane Dembele defended by France team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni following disappointing start to Euro 2024

UEFA Nations League A

Israel

France

Didier Deschamps' France side came into the Euros as one of the outright favourites to win the tournament but have failed to live up to the billing as they <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/france-player-ratings-vs-austria-kylian-mbappe-fluffs-lines-euro-2024-opener/blt5c816f3b5d2213ed" target="_blank">scraped past Austria for a 1-0 win</a> and lulled to a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/france-player-ratings-netherlands-kylian-mbappe-adrian-rabiot-stinker-antoine-griezmann-var-euro-2024/blt2d1427deaf9d7991" target="_blank">goalless draw against the Netherlands</a>. One player who has seen the bulk of the criticism has been Dembele due to his lack of effectiveness in the final third, however, Real Madrid's Tchouameni has defended the winger.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to the media, the 24-year-old said: "Ousmane, nothing affects him! Everything is fine, he is an exceptional player. He is very important in our system. We know that this type of player achieves a lot of things and that he will perhaps miss things, it's normal."

WHAT TCHOUAMENI SAID

Ever since his Barcelona days, Dembele has received a lot of criticism regarding his poor decision-making skills despite his supreme abilities to take on and beat his markers close to the box. It is unlikely that he will be dropped by Deschamps but another poor performance could see his spot in jeopardy as they make their way to the knockout stages.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

France will be in action on Tuesday, June 25 against Poland as they look to win and confirm their spot in the last 16 of the European Championship.

WHAT NEXT FOR DEMBELE?

Ousmane Dembele defended by France team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni following disappointing start to Euro 2024 | Goal.com

Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele has failed to impress for France so far at the Euros but Aurelien Tchouameni believes he is a vital player.