Michael Olise shines under Zidane but the French demand more

Under the spotlight of the first gathering of the Zidane era, Michael Olise turned the friendly match against Belgium on Monday at the Stade de France into a true spectacle, scoring two goals and delivering an assist after his entry at the 60th minute.

Disappointed expectations among the pundits

Coming on as a substitute against the Red Devils, the Bavarian entered at the 60th minute and immediately turned the match around. He scored a brace and provided an assist, taking the final score to 4‑1 for the Blues. His performance was described as magnificent and unanimously praised.

Pundit Jean‑Louis Tourre expressed his desire to see Olise shine even more in decisive matches. “We expect him to also win in truly cut‑throat matches,” he said on RMC. He recalled that the former Crystal Palace player had disappointed in the qualifiers for the last World Cup.

Olise, originally from Bavaria, played for Crystal Palace before joining the Blues. His immediate impact shows the potential that Zidane is betting on in this first gathering.

Despite the praise, the pressure remains high for the young talent to replicate this level in major tournaments. The pundits' expectations hint at a future under close scrutiny.