America, here we come! This Thursday evening, at the Parc des Princes, the French team officially validated its ticket for the next World Cup by defeating Ukraine (4-0). Hindered by the visitors’ low block during the first act, Didier Deschamps’ men finally found the fault after returning from the locker room. Author of a double and elected man of the match by the FM editorial team, Kylian Mbappé took advantage of this new qualifying evening to score his 400th career goal. In his wake, Michael Olise, for his part, initiated the tricolor awakening.
Established in a right winger role, the Bavarian, however, experienced a complicated first act. Very well surrounded by Mykhaylychenko, the 23-year-old Frenchman initially struggled to make a difference, displaying an unusual technical waste. Yes, but now, upon returning from the locker room, the London native reminded all observers that he was a different player. Found by Cherki in the Ukrainian area, he first obtained the penalty converted by Mbappé (55th) before sublimating this meeting. Technically correct and with an above-average sense of passing, he multiplied the caviars for his partners.
Michael Olise changed everything
If Akliouche (69th) and Ekitike (71st) did not convert his offerings, the 1m84 left-hander did not miss the target to make the break (76th). Placed in a more central position after the entry of the Reds striker, the announced successor of Antoine Griezmann will have, ultimately, produced another impressive copy (1 goal, 1 penalty caused, 4 chances created, 92 balls touched, 2 shots on target out of 3, 2 interceptions, 94% successful passes). “I had Griezmann like I have Olise today”confided Didier Deschamps to the microphone of the L’Equipe channel, finally confirming the full impact of the tricolor number 11.
Credited with a 7.5 in our columns, Michael Olise above all confirmed his excellent dynamics. Author of 10 goals and 9 goals in 22 matches in all competitions with Bayern Munich since the start of the season, the former Crystal Palace player will have a new opportunity to establish his place in the Blues’ eleven during the trip to Azerbaijan this Sunday. With a Michael Olise at this level (4 goals and 2 assists in 13 caps), the French team can, whatever happens, dream of a radiant summer of 2026 on American soil…
