For those who are taking the train on the way, namely for the final of the men’s football tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games against Spain, Friday (6 p.m.) at the Parc des Princes, Thierry Henry’s French team is not really that of Alexandre Lacazette, the captain of the Blues, disappointing in the game. Jean-Philippe Mateta, providential scorer in the last three matches (against New Zealand, Argentina in the quarter-finals and twice against Egypt in the semi-finals), is not doing everything either. The center forward benefited from the talent of his Crystal Palace teammate, a certain Michael Olise.
The 22-year-old left-footed winger has two goals and three assists in four starts at these Olympics. Hard-hitting, an excellent passer and dangerous from afar, he will be one of France’s X factors against La Roja, a slight favourite in the match (despite a crowd probably in favour of the home team). “Big football fans know him, he shines in the Premier League, he’s a magnificent player on the pitch, a good guy, humble and very funny, there’s only positive about Michael”confided “Laca” on Thursday at a press conference. The “General” of OL, who played for Arsenal, discovered in everyday life a player born in London, trained at Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Deschamps returns on August 29
Olise is a pretty incredible opportunity for France. If he hadn’t left theacademy Chelsea and then the Man City training center (he then joined the Reading U18s in 2017), he could very well have (completely logically) played in the English youth selection. His career ultimately kept him off the radar and he started in the French U18s in 2019. Thierry Henry paid tribute to this son of a French woman of Algerian origin: “Let’s forget the game, it’s his desire to want to play with the French team, it gives me chills. When he showed it and we were in doubt… He could have played the Euro with England, but he wanted to play with France”.
Why France? ” It’s his dreamproclaimed the 98 world champion. I have enormous respect for that.”. Everyone is set. Michael Olise therefore wants to represent France internationally. Barring any surprises, the recent Bayern recruit (for 55 million euros) will not change his sporting nationality to play for the Three Lions. Algeria and Nigeria (his father’s country of origin) seem very far in the race. “Mike” Olise can therefore perfect his French with his Espoirs teammates. While waiting for Didier Deschamps’ call-up to the A team, from the international window in September and the clashes against Belgium and Italy? Answer on Thursday, August 29.
