Michael Olise scored a hat-trick to give France a convincing 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in their last friendly before the World Cup. The match, played at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Monday, also marked Didier Deschamps’ final game on home soil as head coach.
Match recap
- Olise the star: The winger opened the scoring just before half-time (43′), added a second early in the second half (49′), and completed his treble with a curled effort into the top corner (75′) after cutting in from the right. Northern Ireland’s only goal came from Patrick John Kelly (64′).
- Parisian duo shine: Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué started after being rested in the previous loss to Côte d’Ivoire. Doué impressed, while Bradley Barcola came on after an hour. William Saliba, managing back pain, played the entire first half without issue.
- Deschamps’ farewell: The 14-year France boss received a standing ovation from the crowd, who chanted his name in the 7th minute—his old jersey number. His record now stands at 91 games, 63 wins, 14 draws, and 14 losses (69% win rate). He will step down after the World Cup.
- No injuries: The camp reported no fresh injury concerns after the match, with the team set to fly to the United States in two days. N’Golo Kanté earned a warm send-off when he came on in stoppage time, likely his last appearance for France on home soil.
Live blog highlights
Final whistle: France win 3-1. A confident performance after the disappointment against Côte d’Ivoire. Some defensive gaps remain, but the team looks on track.
Substitutions: Manu Koné and Maghnes Akliouche replaced Aurélien Tchouameni and Michael Olise late on. Olise received a deserved standing ovation. Rayan Cherki and Dayot Upamecano had late attempts.
Dembélé stat: A curious fact: Ousmane Dembélé has as many international goals as Michael Olise despite having 42 more caps.
FIFA referee controversy: In an unrelated development, FIFA confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be allowed to train or officiate during the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry to the United States. FIFA stated it does not intervene in host country immigration procedures, and the final decision rests with the host government. The reasons for the refusal remain unclear.
Fan comment: One supporter questioned why France continues to play short corners that rarely create danger.
Overall, Les Bleu finished their preparation on a high note and now look ahead to the World Cup with optimism.
