Olise lights up the Blues while Mbappé and Dembélé fade
Michael Olise establishes himself as the true boss of the French national team during the gathering at the Stade de France, recording four goals and two assists in four matches under the guidance of Didier Zidane.
We should have thought of it sooner: a shy aesthete can only express his full potential under the guidance of another shy aesthete, but hierarchies and seniority first put Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in the spotlight, before they were relegated to the background in rather laughable Ballon d’Or debates.
Olise's technical role
While the French team have other creative profiles like Rayan Cherki or Désiré Doué, Olise comes closest to the complete number 10, capable of dimming himself for fifteen minutes before reigniting a blinding light for the next thirty, acting as the switch for Zidane's creativity.
Statistically, he is the first player of the French national team to be decisive four times in a row during his first four appearances under a new manager, an achievement accomplished without dispute, the London‑born player having solidified his standard for over a year with Bayern.
The visual impact at the Stade de France
Olise captivates with the aesthetic purity of his play: a fantastic run, a lethal free‑kick strike, then a two‑step double, three movements, including a right‑footed shot, which set the stadium ablaze like never before.
An emotional scene at the Stade de France between Zidane and Jacquet
The atmosphere changed as soon as he entered, the number 11 widening the realm of possibilities, the sky turning blue again, every ball he touched triggering murmurs and shivers in the stands.
His chemistry with Cherki and Doué, teammates since the 2024 Olympics, confirms that this trio embodies the country's future, combining nonchalance and confidence capable of moving mountains.
Mbappé, the Parisian, wore the armband yesterday but was far from his usual level, while Dembélé, the Madrilenian, has not regained the expected form for a long time.
“It is today’s truth, the only one that matters, the one from the pitch,” concluded Jean‑Charles Danrée at the Stade de France, hinting that this reality may well endure tomorrow.