France’s hidden gem?

Everyone falls for the individual brilliance and chemistry between Dembélé, Olise and Mbappé, but nobody talks about Désiré Doué. Of France’s ‘Fantastic Four’, he is the forgotten man, just as he was at PSG. He competes for attention alongside three superstars, yet never looks out of place. Without the fanfare or marketing machine behind the others, the winger has quietly become one of the revelations of his first World Cup with France.

Having only just turned 21, nobody should underestimate Doué’s contribution to Les Bleus. Against Norway (4-1), he opened his account at the tournament deep into stoppage time. His roar towards the sky said everything. He wants to prove himself and keep growing because he has nothing to envy about the ‘Big Three’ alongside him in attack. For Didier Deschamps, he has become untouchable. He only missed the match against Iraq because of squad rotation before returning against the Norwegians to reclaim his place.

Doué is the ‘little brother’ of the quartet and is treated as such, protected and guided by those around him. But he wants more. Operating from the left wing, he is a constant threat, using his dribbling ability and explosive pace to torment defenders. What stands out even more, however, is his work without the ball. Against Norway, according to SofaScore, he made seven ball recoveries, one interception and won 50 per cent of his ground duels. The former Rennes winger is a complete footballer. The future. And Luis Enrique saw it long before everyone else.

“He has great versatility. He can play inside or as a winger. He has a strong defensive mentality and the right attitude to keep developing here,” the PSG coach said last season. “Everyone likes Doué. We got it right by signing him from Rennes. He’s also an extremely well-mannered young man, optimistic and always smiling. Now we try to calm him down... or rather, calm the people around him because it’s obvious he attracts attention.”

Doué’s international breakthrough is gathering pace. Among the standout Under-20 players at the tournament, only Gilberto Mora of Mexico and Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast have shone as brightly. In France, his versatility is one of his greatest assets, as he is capable of playing anywhere across the front line, although the left wing has so far become his natural home.

What Doué is experiencing with Les Bleus is nothing new. Since arriving from Rennes two seasons ago, he has had to fight for recognition, and it has not come easily. At a club packed with stars such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, who is chasing a second Ballon d’Or, and Bradley Barcola, he was often criticised for not matching their level, with little consideration given to his age.

Even so, his numbers speak for themselves. Across two seasons with PSG, he has recorded 29 goals and 22 assists in 102 appearances. For France, the story has been much the same, with three goals in six competitive appearances since making his debut in March last year. He already knows what it feels like to win the Champions League, and now he wants to add a World Cup to his collection. For Deschamps, he is the final piece of the puzzle. The perfect complement to France’s formidable attacking trio.

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