PSG left fuming by Ousmane Dembele injury on France duty after sending warning over potential hamstring issue

Ukraine v France - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Paris Saint-Germain have expressed their displeasure over Ousmane Dembele's injury during France's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Friday. Les Bleus picked up a comfortable 2-0 win thanks to goals from Michael Olise and captain Kylian Mbappe, but they had to deal with Dembele's injury setback as the winger hobbled off in the second half with a hamstring problem.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Dembele, a second half substitute for club colleague Desire Doue, was forced to leave the pitch himself on the 82-minute mark after sustaining the complaint. French reporter Fabrice Hawkins has since revealed that the 28-year-old is expected to miss the next six weeks, meaning he will be absent when PSG travel to his former club Barcelona in the Champions League on October 1. Hawkins is also reporting that Doue has left France's squad with a calf problem picked up in the Ukraine victory, with the 20-year-old set to miss PSG's next two games against Lens and Atalanta.

Ukraine v France - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Dembele's fresh injury setback has left PSG fuming as the Ligue 1 champions had warned France's medical staff to protect the winger, according to L'Equipe. The forward had a short pre-season due to PSG's participation in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, with Luis Enrique's men losing 3-0 to Chelsea in the final in July.

DID YOU KNOW?

The report adds that PSG knew that Dembele was fatigued and playing under such conditions would have made him susceptible to an injury. Now that the Ballon d'Or frontrunner has been ruled out for the next six weeks with the knock, Les Parisiens have expressed their displeasure behind the scenes.

Ukraine v France - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?

Didier Deschamps' men will be back in action when they face Iceland in their second World Cup qualifying game on September 9. Arnar Gunnlaugsson's Iceland defeated Azerbaijan 5-0 in their opening qualification match on Friday.