Olise hat-trick underscores France’s attacking depth ahead of World Cup opener

France concluded their final World Cup warm-up campaign with a decisive victory over Northern Ireland on Monday, driven by a hat-trick from Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. The result offers coach Didier Deschamps a clear indication of his squad’s tactical flexibility as the team prepares for their tournament opener against Senegal on 16 June in New Jersey.

Olise, 24, finished with seven goals in 17 international appearances, a tally that reflects his growing influence within the national setup. His performance included two finishes inside the penalty area and a curled strike into the top left corner after cutting inside from the right flank. This signature movement has been instrumental in his club career, where he has scored 22 goals for Bayern this season and 42 goals in 107 games across two seasons at the German club.

Deschamps fielded his preferred starting lineup, integrating Olise into an attack that features Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué. The manager praised Olise’s work ethic and confidence, noting that the winger’s impact was evident even during the 2024 Paris Olympics under coach Thierry Henry. Olise contributed two goals and five assists during that tournament, helping France reach the final, a period the player later described as the best football experience of his life.

The integration of Olise into the senior side was not immediate. Deschamps revealed that it took the winger four or five matches to reveal his full potential, citing his introverted nature. Olise’s first international goal came on his sixth appearance, a free kick against Croatia in the 2025 Nations League, marking a steady progression from his early days at Reading and Crystal Palace to his €60 million move to Bayern Munich.

While Olise’s form has been a highlight, the performance also underscored ongoing challenges for Mbappé, who failed to score in this match following a 2-1 home loss to Ivory Coast last Thursday. Mbappé currently holds 56 international goals and requires two more to surpass Olivier Giroud’s national record. Deschamps indicated that the striker is holding back his scoring output for the tournament, a stance the coach welcomed given the current depth of the attacking options.