Behind France's 3 1 Victory: Olise's Hat Trick Cannot Conceal Deschamps' Three Hidden Issues

Key Progress

Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille. Twenty minutes before kickoff.

The moment the starting lineup flashed on the big screen, 57-year-old Didier Deschamps stood on the sidelines, hands in his pockets. Behind him, a banner unfurled in the stands—cursive letters reading "Merci DD."

This wasn't the World Cup. It was the final warm-up match before the World Cup. But the air carried a strange weight.

The whistle blew. France gave Northern Ireland no time to breathe—73% possession, pinning the opponent in their own half for most of the game. Just three days earlier, the Blues had been overturned 2-1 by Ivory Coast, ending a nine-match unbeaten streak. This time, they weren't planning to just "go through the motions."

43rd minute. Olise.

The name might make Ligue 1 veterans pause for half a second—isn't he that winger from Crystal Palace? But Bayern Munich fans already knew. A half-volley. Gusto's cross was cleared by a Northern Ireland defender and goalkeeper in a clumsy "set-up," the ball landing at Olise's feet. Without letting it bounce, he struck a curling right-footed shot that kissed the post and nestled into the far corner.

A Camp Nou-style goal.

49th minute. Another one. A curled shot inside the box made it 2-0. Two shots, two goals. Olise seamlessly transferred his entire season's form at Bayern onto the national team jersey.

64th minute. Northern Ireland's Patrick Kelly pulled one back in a scramble.

After the match, Gusto didn't mince words in the mixed zone, using the term "defensive wandering."

74th minute. Olise completed his hat-trick. A curling shot into the far corner. 3-1, game sealed. It was Olise's sixth goal for France and his signed declaration to Deschamps: "I'm ready." Deschamps' post-match assessment was succinct: "He's radiant. Everything comes easily to him."

But the image that truly defined the night came after the match.

Deschamps was asked about Mbappé's form—the Real Madrid forward's efficiency in front of goal could only be described as "misfiring" all game. Deschamps smiled and dropped a line worthy of being etched into World Cup history:

"He told me he's saving his goals for America. I accept that."

One sentence shut down all questions about whether Mbappé was "past it."

Dembélé's position was another gamble for Deschamps in this match.

In the pre-match lineup, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner was placed in the "number 10 role" behind Mbappé—the traditional attacking midfielder position. 21-year-old Doué edged out his club teammate Barcola to take the left flank.

It was a new test from Deschamps for the Ballon d'Or winner: Are you willing to drop back from the wing and play as Mbappé's wingman?

Dembélé told TF1's cameras after the match: "We're happy with how we played. The three forwards stretched the pitch. We've been building chemistry since March. With Olise, Mbappé, and Doué, we rotate positions a lot."

Understated.

But Deschamps himself pointed out a detail: Dembélé reported "relatively late" and, after a string of events at Paris Saint-Germain, needed time to recover both physically and mentally. In other words—in this warm-up, Deschamps wasn't expecting a 100% performance from Dembélé.

The "wandering" in defense was another unsolved equation.

Gusto's blunt "defensive wandering" comment: "We lost our positions at times. We need to improve." And Northern Ireland, with only two shots on target all game, still managed to score—a stat that, when facing Senegal, Iraq, or Norway, would be enough to make Deschamps down three cups of black coffee.

And don't forget: in March's warm-up matches, France also conceded goals they shouldn't have.

The "double insurance" midfield pairing—Tchouaméni and Rabiot—was seen by Deschamps as an already "settled" core combination. But the attacking "front four" rotated positions so frequently that Deschamps himself admitted after the match: "He (Dembélé) also appeared in the middle." Fluidity was there, but who was responsible for the final strike?

As the final whistle blew, applause rang out from the stands again.

This time, it wasn't for the players. It was for the coach.

Deschamps stood and applauded back.

14 years. From the captain who tossed his hair in the air in the player tunnel in 1998, to the coach in 2026 who has Mbappé listening to tactics and slots Dembélé into the number 10 role—he has single-handedly dragged France out of the "who comes after Zidane" quagmire twice.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill's tribute after the match might carry more weight than any trophy—the fellow coach said: "He's an outstanding national team manager. Despite all the options available, he's managed to lead a country like France for such a long time."

That was a tip of the hat from a peer.

Then came a more "human" scene.

After the match, the whole team was given time off. Mbappé headed straight for Madrid—back to report to Real Madrid. Olise flew to Munich—Bayern still had end-of-season matters to wrap up. The players scattered like grains of sand, called back by their respective clubs for a day.

At noon on June 9, the team regrouped at Clairefontaine. On June 10, they boarded a plane for Boston.

That was France's final 48 hours before heading to the World Cup.

The applause in Lille was already fading, and the hotel in Boston was still on the horizon.

And in Deschamps' pocket, he still carried that unsolved puzzle—

Mbappé's goals, Olise's chemistry, Dembélé's "revival," and that leaky backline.

France won 3-1, Olise with a hat-trick. But "good enough" has never been a World Cup talisman.

Follow-up Observations

Let's start with the most pressing question:

June 16, New Jersey. France vs. Senegal.

This is the World Cup opener. Not a friendly, not a warm-up, not a dress rehearsal at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

Senegal is not Northern Ireland.

This team pushed England into extra time in 2022, and reached the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2024. Their defensive midfielder Koulibaly can make any Ligue 1 center-back break a sweat in the box, and their forwards, Sarr and Mané, remain nightmares for Ligue 1 and Premier League defenders.

And what "answer" did France offer in this warm-up?

73% possession, two shots on target conceded, yet still gave up a goal. Gusto's own admission of "defensive wandering" was successfully exploited by a "semi-pro" level opponent like Northern Ireland.

What happens when it's Senegal?

Second observation: Is Olise truly the "new Mbappé"?

A hat-trick, his sixth national team goal—the Bayern winger seamlessly transferred his club form to the national team jersey. But the issue is: Olise has never been the type of "carry the team on his back" core player. His style needs space, needs someone to pass him the ball, needs Rabiot and Tchouaméni to deliver the ball forward during transitions.

Look at Mbappé in contrast.

He was "off form" this match, failing to score all game. Deschamps' joke about "saving them for America" sounds like relieving pressure on the player, but it's actually a reassurance to the whole team—but how long can that reassurance last?

Mbappé scored 8 goals in 7 games at the last World Cup, winning the Golden Boot. He remains France's primary explosive threat.

But in the front four, who among Olise, Dembélé, and Doué can step up when Mbappé is locked down?

This warm-up offered a vague answer: Olise can. But can he maintain that efficiency in knockout-stage competition? No one knows.

Third observation: Dembélé's "number 10 experiment."

Deschamps insists on playing the Ballon d'Or winner as a number 10, not on the wing. It's a choice—

If it works, the fluidity of France's front four will reach its highest level since 2018; if it fails, Dembélé might return to the wing, while PSG and Bayern are still bickering over his future.

Deschamps admitted before the match: "Dembélé reported late and needs time to recover."

That essentially means Dembélé might have only given 70-80% in this warm-up. Whether he can deliver 100% at the World Cup remains unknown.

Deschamps also made a statement after the match: "He (Dembélé) also appeared in the middle."—one sentence framing Dembélé's tactical role as "wherever he's needed." It sounds flexible, but it also hints at "I haven't fully figured it out either."

Fourth observation: Doué on the left.

The 21-year-old edged out Barcola. He didn't score in this warm-up, but his movement and link-up play in the front line were evident. Deschamps' message to him was clear: the left-wing starting spot at the World Cup is yours.

What about Barcola?

He'll have to find his own answers. The shadow of Rayan Cherki flickered on the bench.

Fifth observation: The 57-year-old man who received a standing ovation.

14 years. From the failed firefighter coach at Euro 2012, to the 2018 World Cup champion, to the runner-up in 2022.

O'Neill called him an "outstanding national team manager." That's true, but it's not enough.

Deschamps' real skill is cramming a group of players worth hundreds of millions at their clubs, with egos to match, into a system where he calls the shots.

After this warm-up, Mbappé flew back to Madrid, Olise to Munich, Dembélé to Paris, Saliba to Arsenal.

48 hours later, they'll reunite in Boston.

That's the final picture of France before departure:

A team that found its rhythm in Lille with a 3-1 win; A coach experimenting with a "Ballon d'Or winner as number 10"; A squad of players who are gods at their clubs but must listen to Deschamps for the national team; And seven days to go.

Senegal won't be Northern Ireland.

And Deschamps' team must move from this "good enough" rehearsal to the real show.

If this warm-up left Deschamps with anything, it's a brutally simple truth—

No matter how bright Olise shines, how quiet Mbappé is, or how flashy Dembélé's position is, the real test is whether they can assemble a France team "ready for a tough fight" for the opener in New Jersey. That's the true exam from this dress rehearsal.

As for how long the "saving them for America" joke will last?

We'll find out in 7 days.