Deschamps’ adjustments put France’s attacking depth into sharper focus

Didier Deschamps has responded to France’s early tactical issues at this World Cup by altering the shape around his elite forwards, with the clearest shift moving Ousmane Dembele wider and Michael Olise more central. The changes have helped France look more secure without the ball while giving Kylian Mbappe better service in advanced areas.

The BBC analysis highlights how France’s opening setup against Senegal created problems between the front line and the midfield pairing of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni. Senegal were able to find space in those gaps, pushing Deschamps to move away from a more stretched defensive look toward a compact structure that protected the middle of the pitch.

The role swap between Dembele and Olise appears central to the improvement. Dembele’s energy on the right has supported France’s defensive shape, while Olise’s passing from central zones has suited Mbappe’s desire to be involved in play rather than operate only as a final-line striker. Jules Kounde’s more central positioning in settled possession has also been used to improve cover and create different attacking options.

For editors, the larger angle is not simply that France have star power, but that Deschamps continues to adjust how that star power functions together. The source frames France as more threatening in attack and more stable defensively after the tweaks, though this remains a single-source tactical reading rather than a verified statistical assessment.