Just a few days before the start of the World Cup, Michael Olise put down another marker. The FC Bayern attacker led France to victory against Northern Ireland with an outstanding performance and once again underlined his outstanding form
After the surprising 2-1 defeat against Côte d’Ivoire, the French national team provided a fitting response as the Équipe Tricolore beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in the World Cup dress rehearsal in Lille on Monday evening
Michael Olise was once again at the heart of the action, with the Bayern star putting in an outstanding performance and becoming the decisive man on the pitch with a treble
Together with his Munich team-mate Dayot Upamecano, the 24-year-old was part of national team coach Didier Deschamps‘ starting XI. While Upamecano provided stability in defence, Olise caused havoc in the Northern Irish rearguard almost at will
The attacking player crowned his strong performance shortly before the break
Olise puts France on the road to victory
Olise gave the 2022 World Cup runners-up a deserved lead in the 43rd minute, giving them a reassuring lead at the break
The Bayern star seamlessly continued his strong performance after the break, increasing the lead to 2-0 just four minutes after the restart to put France firmly on course
Northern Ireland refused to give in, however, and Kelly reduced the deficit to 1-2 in the 64th minute, briefly creating tension once more
But Olise had the right answer
In the 75th minute, the Frenchman completed his treble to restore the two-goal advantage and his third goal finally decided the game in the hosts‘ favour
When Deschamps took his attacking player off the field in the 83rd minute, the crowd in Lille gave the Bayern professional a standing ovation
Bayern star travels to the World Cup in top form
With his gala performance, Olise impressively confirmed his strong development in recent months. The Frenchman was already one of the outstanding players at FC Bayern last season, collecting numerous goals and assists
Now he seems to have maintained this form in time for the World Cup
This is important news for France, as although the competition in attack is fierce, Olise has long since earned himself a permanent place in Didier Deschamps‘ team. His creativity, finishing power and ability to single-handedly decide games make him one of France’s most important attacking players
Looking ahead to the World Cup, the performance against Northern Ireland should also put an end to the discussions about his role in the team. The Bayern star proved to be a difference-maker and one of the players France can rely on in particular in their assault on the World Cup title
The Équipe Tricolore begin their World Cup campaign on June 16 with their opening match against Senegal, followed by Group I clashes with Iraq and Norway
If Michael Olise maintains his current form, France will undoubtedly once again be among the big favorites to win the title.