Leny Yoro left France's 4-1 win over Belgium with the best reviews of the night. He played the full 90 minutes on his senior debut, L'Equipe gave him 7/10, and France's team average was 4.5/10. The same match also brought criticism for Ousmane Dembélé and Adrien Rabiot, for different reasons.

Yoro's debut and the numbers behind it

The strongest line from the evening was Yoro's composure. He won all 9 of his duels, finished the match, and looked comfortable enough that Zinedine Zidane, speaking after the game, said: "I'm happy for him because he had a great game. He fulfilled his role well. I'm happy for all these young players in the French national team."

That fits the broader reaction around the debut. Yoro has only 2 Premier League appearances this season and just 31 Premier League minutes, so this was not a routine outing for a player already settled in senior football. For Manchester United, it is the sort of international night that gives more confidence than a club cameo does.

The criticism around Dembélé and Rabiot

The other headlines were less flattering. L'Equipe described Dembélé as being in the wrong role after his performance against Belgium, which is a sharper criticism than a bad touch or a missed chance. Jean-Louis Tourre also said Rabiot "warmed up at a snail's pace, he didn't have his boots, it drove the France national team staff crazy."

Rabiot only played 2 minutes in the match, so the complaint was about preparation rather than a long stretch of poor play. France did not need to lean on either man once the game opened up, but the post-match tone made clear that not every senior player came away with credit.

The decisive stretch came late. Belgium held France for 75 minutes before the match swung in the final 14, and France finished with a 4-1 win in Saint-Denis. France vs Belgium turned into a comfortable scoreline, but the sharpest takeaway was Yoro's debut, not the result itself.

FAQ

Did Leny Yoro make a good senior debut for France against Belgium?

Yes. Leny Yoro played the full 90 minutes on his senior France debut against Belgium, and L'Equipe gave him 7/10, well above France's team average of 4.5/10. He also won all 9 of his duels, which fits the praise he received after the 4-1 win.

Why was Ousmane Dembélé criticised after France beat Belgium?

L'Equipe described Ousmane Dembélé as being in the wrong role after the Belgium match. The criticism was about his position and performance, not about deciding the result, which France won 4-1 in Saint-Denis.

What did Adrien Rabiot do to upset the France staff?

Jean-Louis Tourre said Rabiot warmed up at a snail's pace, did not have his boots, and drove the France staff crazy. The issue was his slow preparation during a brief cameo, not a decisive on-pitch mistake.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →