France wrapped up their World Cup preparations with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland on Monday, and the night belonged entirely to Michael Olise.
The Bayern Munich winger produced a sparkling hat trick in Lille, including a stunning curled finish that brought the crowd to its feet. It was a fitting finale for Didier Deschamps’ last match on French soil before the long-serving coach steps down after the 2026 World Cup, ending a remarkable 14-year reign in charge of Les Bleus.
A night to remember for Olise
Deschamps named an attacking lineup packed with flair, featuring Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Olise, and Désiré Doué. France dominated possession from the start, but Northern Ireland defended stubbornly until just before halftime.
Olise opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, reacting quickest after Dembélé’s shot was blocked and poking the loose ball home from close range.
He doubled the lead four minutes into the second half, smashing in from near the penalty spot after Northern Ireland failed to clear a dangerous cross from the right.
Then came the moment of the match. In the 75th minute, Olise cut in from the right wing and whipped a sublime left-footed curler into the top corner from about 20 meters out — a goal worthy of any World Cup stage.
France’s new attacking star
Olise’s performance will only strengthen the belief that he is ready for a starring role in the tournament. The 24-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich this season and now looks set to start for France when they open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey.
A small blemish for Les Bleus
France’s only disappointment came shortly after Olise’s second goal, when the defense briefly switched off and allowed Patrick Kelly to tap in a cross for Northern Ireland midway through the second half.
Still, the result gave France confidence heading into the tournament and provided Deschamps with a memorable send-off at home.
For one night, though, the spotlight belonged to Olise — a player arriving on the world stage with perfect timing.
