Published 10:46 6 Jul 2024 GMT+1
Dembele converted from 12 yards with his so-called ‘weaker foot’.
Ousmane Dembele has got people talking after he decided to use his so-called ‘weaker foot’ during France’s penalty shoot-out win over Portugal at Euro 2024.
The 27-year-old winger, who plays his club football for Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain, confidently stepped up to take the first spot-kick after both sides could not be separated after 120 minutes.
After taking three steps to his left, a confident Dembele sent penalty-saving expert Diogo Costa the wrong way with a cool finish using his right foot – something that raised eyebrows during the shoot-out.
“So much respect for Dembele taking a right foot penalty,” said one fan. “Caught Diogo Costa out dived the other way. First time I’ve seen a player use ‘weak foot’ for penalties.”
Another commented: “Imagine taking a pen with your weak foot in a Euros quarter-final. Dembele is a joke.”
Image credit: Getty
Having scored using his self-confessed ‘weaker’ right foot, an interview from when he was playing for Ligue 1 side Rennes has resurfaced that shows how two-footed he really is.
As you can see from the footage below, a reporter asks him if he was right or left-footed, to which he replied, “Hmm left-footed.”
Dembele was then asked to clarify. “Yeah I’m more left-footed yeah,” he said.
But when asked why he takes penalties with his right foot, the Frenchman added: “Because I shoot better with my right foot.”
Dembele’s ability with both feet is certainly admirable – and that unpredictability factor must be a nightmare for opposition defenders and goalkeepers.
Speaking after France’s win over Portugal on Friday night, Dembele opened up about their preparations for a shoot-out.
“We had practised penalties and felt confident going into them,” said Dembele. “The Qatar World Cup final loss helped us in that respect. I think we all took the goalkeeper by surprise because we sent him the wrong way.”
Didier Deschamps’ side have scored just three goals in five games at Euro 2024, with two of those being own goals.
Dembele, however, isn’t concerned by those numbers. “That’s how it is,” he added. “We play like that, those who are not happy, that’s not my problem.
“We’ve scored three goals but we are here in the semi-finals. It is the solidity of this team that means we are still here today.”
Featured Image Credit: Euro 2024/BBC
Topics: Ousmane Dembele, Rennes, Ligue 1, France, Portugal, Euro 2024