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Michael Olise netted a superb hat-trick as France brushed aside Northern Ireland 3-1 in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. The Bayern Munich winger was outstanding from start to finish, fully deserving his three goals as Les Bleus sealed a confident win without needing to push into top gear. As France prepare to travel to the United States, this was as close to a perfect send-off as Didier Deschamps could have hoped for.

Although the contest wasn’t entirely straightforward early on, Northern Ireland made things uncomfortable for around 40 minutes. France lined up close to full strength with Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise leading the attack. For much of the first half, Northern Ireland’s organisation frustrated the hosts, and they even had a chance to snatch the lead after an intelligent move near the 40th minute.

But France switched gears right before half-time. A fortunate deflection landed at Olise’s feet, and he made no mistake from close range, smashing home from five yards out. Minutes after the restart, he doubled the advantage, reacting sharply to a loose ball and sending a powerful strike past the keeper.

Northern Ireland did manage to pull one back when Shea Charles wriggled past Dayot Upamecano and squared for Patrick Kelly to tap in from two yards. However, the visitors’ hopes were quickly dashed as Olise completed his hat-trick with a composed finish to put the result beyond doubt. From that point onward, France controlled proceedings and never looked in danger. Despite conceding once, Deschamps will be delighted with the display and the attacking sharpness shown by his side.

GOAL gives its player ratings for France from the Decathlon Arena...

Goalkeeper & Defence

Mike Maignan (6/10):

Had no chance with the goal conceded but was otherwise steady and reliable.

Theo Hernandez (5/10):

Offered attacking intent with two created chances, though his defensive work looked uncertain at times.

William Saliba (6/10):

Put in a clean 45-minute shift on his return. His minutes continue to be managed after a demanding season with Arsenal.

Dayot Upamecano (7/10):

Completed the full 90 minutes, recording the most touches in the match. Unfortunate involvement in the opposition’s goal but otherwise solid, reinforcing his claim for a starting position.

Jules Kounde (6/10):

Played an assured hour defensively but could have been more progressive with his passing.

Midfield

Adrien Rabiot (6/10):

Did his job quietly and efficiently in the middle, offering stability without flair.

Aurélien Tchouaméni (8/10):

Delivered a commanding display, contributing both defensively and creatively. Led the team in tackles and chances created, showing why he often performs better for France than for his club.

Michael Olise (9/10):

Operated freely in an attacking midfield role, scoring all three of France’s goals. A constant threat and possibly even more decisive than Mbappe on the night.

Attack

Ousmane Dembele (6/10):

Worked tirelessly but struggled to create clear openings. His industrious play often went unnoticed next to Mbappe’s flair.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

Looked sharp, frequently beating defenders and finding good positions. Only missing element was a goal to cap his performance.

Desire Doue (6/10):

Showed intent with three created chances but couldn’t quite get the better of his marker.

Substitutes & Manager

Malo Gusto (7/10):

Registered an assist and looked far more composed than in the previous match.

Max Lacroix (6/10):

Delivered a clean 45 minutes without incident.

Lucas Digne (6/10):

Contributed well after coming on, adding balance at full-back.

Rayan Cherki (6/10):

Produced some promising moments, though his chemistry with Olise remains uncertain.

Kouadio Kone (5/10):

Completed all his passes in a steady but unspectacular cameo.

Maghnes Akliouche (N/A):

Came on too late to influence proceedings.

N'Golo Kante (5/10):

Also entered late and couldn’t make much of an impact.

Didier Deschamps (7/10):

Apart from the single goal conceded, the French coach will have few complaints. His side looked well-tuned and ready to make a strong impression at the upcoming World Cup.