Michael Olise starred alongside Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Desire Doue in the 3-1 victory against Northern Ireland.
Published June 9, 2026
France coach Didier Deschamps challenged striker Michael Olise to make his mark at the World Cup after scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Northern Ireland in his team's final World Cup warm-up match.
Bayern Munich winger and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé were joined in a fearsome attack by Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembélé for Monday's match. The Paris Saint-Germain pair had rested for the previous friendly (lost to Ivory Coast) after winning the Champions League.
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But Olise shined brightest, grabbing rebounds just before and after the break before hitting a magnificent shot from outside the area to finish off the visitors after Patrick Kelly had pulled one back.
“We will need a Michel Olise at that level,” Deschamps said. “Michael stands out for the season he has had at Bayern and with us.”
“He's accomplished some really great things, he's full of confidence. He also has the ability to push himself, which is remarkable,” Deschamps said.
Another Champions League finalist, Arsenal's William Saliba, showed he was over an injury scare when he returned to give France a similar look to how they might line up for their World Cup opener against Senegal in New Jersey on June 16.
The French, however, were frequently disjointed in attack, with captain Mbappé needing a goal to equal the often lackluster scoring record of Olivier Giroud's team.
However, they still put pressure on the crowded Northern Irish defence, forcing desperate blocks and weak clearances.
Although the roof of the Lille stadium was kept closed on a cold and wet night, play was stopped for a drink midway through each half to help Les Bleus prepare in every detail for the World Cup.
France, which will leave on Wednesday for its training base near Boston, will also face Iraq in Philadelphia and Norway in Foxborough, outside Boston, in Group I.
