World Cup 2018: 5 underperformers from the semi-finals

#4 Mousa Dembélé - Belgium

Dembele was tactically and physically over shadowed by the French midfield.

Mousa Dembele is a tremendous footballer, as the 30 year old has often shown during his time at Tottenham. However, Dembele’s showing for Belgium in the World Cup semi-final was below par, with the game largely passing the Spurs man by, after he was handed a rare start for his country.

Dembele has a great reputation for getting the better of his midfield rivals. But he was no match for the French midfield led by N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, and was eventually hauled off the pitch by Roberto Martinez as France won the match 1-0. He looked sluggish throughout the game and failed to find any rhythm and therefore struggled.

With one having utterly blown away the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid in the Champions League with devastating displays and the other being Pogba, the physical battle between Pogba and Dembele was a much coveted topic for days.

However, Dembele was outclassed in every aspect and statistic of the game by his French nemesis. While the French midfield had a live-wire named Kante and Dembele had Witsel to his support, such is Dembele's repute that there was no excuse for him to allow breaches in the Belgian midfield.

With his compatriots trying to break the solid French defense with their trickery and long-balls, it was evident that Belgium lacked the mobility and fluidity that tormented Brazil in the first half of the quarter-final.

With Fellaini and Dembélé struggling to build the play and to move the ball quickly, it made it very difficult for Belgium to establish any flow to its game through midfield. The under-stated presence, crosses and passes of Meunier whose suspension paved way for Dembele was badly missed.

As the game progressed, the likes of Mbappe and Griezmann started knocking on the Belgian defense and Oliver Giroud was excellent with his hold up play that often caught Dembele out of position and grasping for breath as the quick French attack came wave after wave.

His attempts at passing or laying a through ball was quickly cut short by the amazing Kante, and any amount of extra possession drew Pogba towards him.

The long balls towards Fellaini were also a disappointment as the Manchester United midfielder was always man-marked by a resolute Pogba who was having a spectacular game in his own right.

Dembele was subbed off for Mertens by the hour mark, as the Red Devils tried to inject some attacking flair into the team.

His disastrous performance may not help him in getting recalled to the starting XI for the 3rd position play-off against England, and at 30 years of age this might be his last World-Cup.