France defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 in their final match before leaving for the World Cup, although two of their best attacking players put in contrasting displays.
Despite creating multiple opportunities, Mbappe failed to score in a third straight game. The France captain has scored 56 goals in 98 international games, so the drought is remarkable, but neither the player nor his manager seem concerned.
Olise, on the other hand, made headlines. The Bayern Munich winger maintained his strong club form and bolstered his increasing impact on the national team with a spectacular hat-trick in Lille.
Deschamps Not Bothered About Mbappe’s Goal Drought
Deschamps remains unphased by the striker recent lack of clinical finishing, despite a disappointing evening in which the striker regularly appeared disconnected in attack. Suggestions that his talisman was lacking confidence were dismissed by the head coach.
“I’m not going to worry. It’s true he’s had several chances, but he hasn’t been clinical. He told me he was saving it for the USA, so I’m fine with that,” Deschamps told TF1 as quoted by Goal.
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Olise delivered a performance that solidified his place as France’s best player going into the competition, while Mbappe found it difficult to ignite. Olise, 24, was unrelenting, scoring on rebounds on either side of the break before sealing his treble with an incredible long-range curled effort.
The Bayern star may possibly be the team’s main offensive danger at the moment, according to Deschamps’ positive evaluation of the winger.
He said: “He’s radiant, just like his season at Bayern. Everything is easy for him. He’s efficient, and that’s great. We’ll also need other players.”
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