SOCCER: Olise stakes World Cup claim with hat-trick in France win

PARIS — Michael Olise delivered a standout performance with a hat-trick as France defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Lille, eight days before beginning their campaign in the United States.

The in-form playmaker further strengthened his case as one of Les Bleus’ key attacking threats. However, defensive concerns remain for France after a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast earlier in the week, with a heavily rotated side again showing vulnerability at the back.

France will open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16 in Group I, followed by matches against Iraq and Norway.

Head coach Didier Deschamps is expected to rely on a core starting lineup for the opener in New York. Olise featured in a fluid attacking unit alongside Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué, while William Saliba partnered with Dayot Upamecano in central defense.

France started slowly, struggling to break through a compact Northern Ireland defensive block and creating few clear chances in the opening stages. Their tempo improved as halftime approached, eventually producing a breakthrough just before the interval.

Désiré Doué surged down the left flank and set up Dembélé inside the box. The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s shot was deflected into the path of Olise, who finished from close range to give France a 1-0 lead two minutes before halftime.

Olise struck again early in the second half, volleying home after a defensive clearance fell kindly to him, doubling France’s advantage four minutes after the restart.

Despite their control in attack, France again showed lapses in concentration defensively. Much like in their previous match against Ivory Coast, they were punished on the counterattack when Patrick Kelly met Shea Charles’ cross with a powerful finish to pull a goal back for Northern Ireland.

However, Olise remained decisive throughout.

The 24-year-old completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute, curling a superb strike into the far corner to seal the victory for France. -Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters