Michael Olise underlined his status as one of the potential stars of the 2026 World Cup with a stunning hat-trick in France‘s 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Didier Deschamps’ side were beaten by Ivory Coast 2-1 in Nantes last Thursday, but their final home game before travelling across the Atlantic for the World Cup was a much more successful one.
It was not until the 43rd minute that Olise broke the deadlock with a far-post finish, and his rasping effort four minutes into the second half made it 2-0.
Northern Ireland pulled one back through Patrick Kelly, but the excellent Olise had the final say in trademark fashion when he cut onto his left foot and bent an imperious effort into the top-left corner.
Olise lights up France’s World Cup send-off
France were unsurprisingly on the front foot early as Kylian Mbappe curled wide, but they were nearly caught out on the counter when Kelly dragged narrowly off target after a clever lofted ball from Shea Charles.
Aurélien Tchouameni then strong the post with a long-range drive, with Mbappe’s subsequent effort ruled out for offside against Desire Doue.
Controversially from a Northern Ireland perspective, there was no offside flag as Olise slotted in to break the deadlock after an Ousmane Dembele effort was blocked, with the referee’s assistant and VAR deeming Mbappe was not interfering with play despite appearing to stand in the eyeline of goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
The visitors had a Jamie Donley equaliser ruled out for a clear foul by Ruairi McConville in the build-up, and they were then left with a mountain to climb by Olise.
Olise rifled a vicious finish beyond Pierce Charles after Theo Hernandez saw a header blocked by Trai Hume.
Mbappe continued to be frustrated as he scooped over from a Hernandez lay-off, and Maxence Lacroix also unable to keep his strike down as another clear-cut opportunity went begging.
Northern Ireland punished that profligacy in the 64th minute, when Shea Charles outmuscled Dayot Upamecano as he chased a long ball down the left, with the Southampton star then picking out Kelly to tap in.
Mbappe failed to take another gilt-edged chance after being played in by Olise, who will be a favourite to start France’s World Cup opener against Senegal a week on Tuesday after his superb curling strike complete his hat-trick in sensational style.
