'Idiot' Frenchman slammed for 'car crash' in World Cup final - 'Worst game I've seen'
French striker Ousmane Dembele was the subject of much criticism for his first-half performance in the World Cup final against Argentina.
Unsurprisingly, Dembele retained his place in Didier Deschamps' starting XI for the game against Copa America champions Argentina.
The Blues had a dismal first half, leading the break 2-0 after goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
Dembele was probably the worst player on the pitch in the first 45 minutes.
The Barcelona winger gave away a penalty - which Messi sent in to open the scoring - and looked sloppy on the ball.
One man leading the criticism is former England manager and defender Stuart Pearce, who called Dembele's performance "the worst game I have ever seen".
Harsh criticism indeed for Dembele, who was substituted in the 41st minute; just like striker Olivier Giroud.
"Dembele has the worst game I've ever seen," Pearce told talkSPORT.
"He gave away the penalty and probably gave away all the assists he had afterwards."
When Dembele was taken off, Pearce added: "I'm sorry for the boy, he gave the penalty. His performance was shocking to be fair.
"Deschamps had to do something there, we were witnessing a car accident."
Former England right-back Gary Neville believes Dembele 'played like a little boy' by fouling Di Maria in the penalty area.
"The penalty I have to say, I know Dembele is a wide player, but honestly...his initial challenge, you know what Di Maria is going to do, he's been doing it for ten years," Neville said ITV.
"It's embarrassing, and I'm torn on one, I think it's a soft penalty, but also the stupidity of when you do this and get the wrong side, you almost deserve to be found out .
"And Dembele is discovered, he gives this opportunity to Di Maria. Dembele is played like a little boy."
When commenting on the World Cup final, Jermaine Jenas had his say on Deschamps' double substitution in the first half.
"Don't blame Didier Deschamps at all," Jenas said. “He looks the same as we look at her. They obviously struggled with something as a group and were carrying too many players in my opinion.
"It's a tough decision because Giroud had given him so much in the tournament, but he had to make the decision before half-time. It means Mbappe will go through the middle."
Meanwhile, former England striker and former Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen said Dembele's foul on Di Maria was "idiotic".
"Laying aside his silly challenge for the penalty, Dembele gave it away practically every time he touched it," Owen tweeted.
He added: "Argentina plays very well here."
READ MORE: If you're going to have a World Cup third-place play-off, at least do it like this, we guess
French striker Ousmane Dembele was the subject of much criticism for his first-half performance in the World Cup final against Argentina.
Unsurprisingly, Dembele retained his place in Didier Deschamps' starting XI for the game against Copa America champions Argentina.
The Blues had a dismal first half, leading the break 2-0 after goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
Dembele was probably the worst player on the pitch in the first 45 minutes.
The Barcelona winger gave away a penalty - which Messi sent in to open the scoring - and looked sloppy on the ball.
One man leading the criticism is former England manager and defender Stuart Pearce, who called Dembele's performance "the worst game I have ever seen".
Harsh criticism indeed for Dembele, who was substituted in the 41st minute; just like striker Olivier Giroud.
"Dembele has the worst game I've ever seen," Pearce told talkSPORT.
"He gave away the penalty and probably gave away all the assists he had afterwards."
When Dembele was taken off, Pearce added: "I'm sorry for the boy, he gave the penalty. His performance was shocking to be fair.
"Deschamps had to do something there, we were witnessing a car accident."
Former England right-back Gary Neville believes Dembele 'played like a little boy' by fouling Di Maria in the penalty area.
"The penalty I have to say, I know Dembele is a wide player, but honestly...his initial challenge, you know what Di Maria is going to do, he's been doing it for ten years," Neville said ITV.
"It's embarrassing, and I'm torn on one, I think it's a soft penalty, but also the stupidity of when you do this and get the wrong side, you almost deserve to be found out .
"And Dembele is discovered, he gives this opportunity to Di Maria. Dembele is played like a little boy."
When commenting on the World Cup final, Jermaine Jenas had his say on Deschamps' double substitution in the first half.
"Don't blame Didier Deschamps at all," Jenas said. “He looks the same as we look at her. They obviously struggled with something as a group and were carrying too many players in my opinion.
"It's a tough decision because Giroud had given him so much in the tournament, but he had to make the decision before half-time. It means Mbappe will go through the middle."
Meanwhile, former England striker and former Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen said Dembele's foul on Di Maria was "idiotic".
"Laying aside his silly challenge for the penalty, Dembele gave it away practically every time he touched it," Owen tweeted.
He added: "Argentina plays very well here."
READ MORE: If you're going to have a World Cup third-place play-off, at least do it like this, we guess
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