News Focus
- Bayern Munich winger scores his first ever hat-trick for France in World Cup warm-up victory
- Didier Deschamps takes charge of his final match on French soil before stepping down after the tournament
- Former Crystal Palace star shows the ‘mentality’ needed for top individual honours, says Louis Saha
- Kylian Mbappé remains one goal short of Olivier Giroud’s national scoring record after quiet display
- France begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal on 16 June in New Jersey
Michael Olise stole the spotlight as France beat Northern Ireland in their final friendly before the World Cup. The Bayern Munich winger scored three goals to give his country a perfect send-off from Lille.
The match marked Didier Deschamps’ last game on home soil. The manager will leave his post after the tournament ends in July, closing a 14-year chapter.
Olise opened his account by reacting quickly to a deflected shot from Ousmane Dembélé. He then fired a thunderous strike into the net for his second goal. His hat-trick was complete when he curled a beautiful shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
Experts had predicted this breakthrough. Gael Clichy, who coached Olise at the Paris Olympics, tipped him as a star for the tournament. Former France striker Louis Saha also offered high praise. He said the 24-year-old has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or if he maintains his form. Saha pointed to Olise’s strong character during three seasons at Crystal Palace before his move to Germany in 2024.
Deschamps noted how much the player has grown since his debut last year. “Michael is amazing,” he said. “He is decisive, clinical and works hard in defence. We will need him at this level.”
The France boss explained that Olise was quiet when he first joined the squad. He described the player as an introvert who needed time to relax with his team-mates. Now he looks confident and comfortable on the international stage.
France possess incredible strength in attack. Aside from Olise, Dembélé and Mbappé, they can call upon Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and Warren Zaïre-Emery. Deschamps believes this firepower gives France a real chance to lift the trophy for a third time.
For Mbappé, the night brought frustration. The Real Madrid forward had a goal ruled out for offside and missed several clear chances. He remains stuck on 56 goals, one behind Olivier Giroud’s all-time record for Les Bleus. Despite this dry spell, Deschamps refused to worry. “He is saving his goals for the USA,” the manager joked.
The World Cup begins for France on 16 June. They face Senegal in New Jersey, followed by group matches against Iraq and Norway.