A month after the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games football tournament lost by France to Spain, Michael Olise returns to the Parc des Princes pitch for his very first cap in the France A team, this Friday. The Franco-British winger is lined up from the start by Didier Deschamps for the first clash of the Blues in the Nations League group stage against Italy. He also benefits from the disappointing Euro of Ousmane Dembélé, who has been a regular starter on the right wing for several years.
“La Dèche” is not used to starting newcomers in the squad in big matches. This is the case for Olise, since the last French international to make his debut against a European top 10 was Corentin Tolisso against Spain on March 28, 2017. The Lyonnais had been associated with N’Golo Kanté and Adrien Rabiot in midfield during a friendly match lost at the Stade de France (0-2). Italy is 10th in the Fifa Ranking and 7th European nation.
Deschamps launches Griezmann and Barcola
Antoine Griezmann was finally given the starting spot by his French coach (also after his poor European Nations Championship) and was installed as number 10 behind Kylian Mbappé. Olise, a left-footed right winger used to cutting in, was posted on the right, without much surprise (even if the media initially announced him in the centre).
Bradley Barcola was launched on the left wing and the PSG striker, in great form at the start of the season, opened the scoring in the 13th second of the game after taking advantage of an error by the Italian defence to score the fastest goal in the history of the French team.
