Football | The French team and the clarity of Michael Olise

The arrival of icon Zinedine Zidane as head coach of the French national team begins tonight, Friday, September 25, 2025, in the Nations League, facing a group that includes Turkey, Belgium, and Italy. The performance of Les Bleus, who desperately need better coordination in midfield, will partly depend on the wise use of Michael Olise, this valuable supporting player.

Jean-Guillaume Lozato *

Between the predictable and the unpredictable, the World Cup has always managed to captivate crowds. Since 2018, the usual hierarchies have been more disrupted than ever. Amid changes and advancements, a general evolution has been felt with the rebellion of football outsiders against traditional international giants.

Beyond the shared emotion, the individual performances of players have delighted spectators. An isolated action can exert an irresistible charm on the public. Sometimes, two memorable moments in the same match, like when Diego Maradona gifted us the "Hand of God" in 1986, followed by a slalom that surpassed all the players of the English national team that day in June.

France-Sweden 3-0. June 2026. Round of 16. French supporters rightly remember this decisive score, a reflection of a well-deserved victory, notably thanks to a stunning overhead kick from Michael Olise.

Behind the coldness of the numbers, a glimmer turned into brilliance. This was thanks to a scout named Olise.

The "Blue" Context: Brilliance and Consistency

Quarter-finalists in 2014, champions in 2018, silver medalists in 2022, fourth place in 2026. These generally satisfactory results in the Euros reinforce the image of a winning machine, even in the event of temporary failures. This corresponds to "the Deschamps Era."

After the resounding failure in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, Didier Deschamps' first mission in Brazil was reassuring. To build up to a crescendo. Whether the players wearing the rooster-emblazoned jersey are convincing or display a more miraculous record, like in Qatar, they have managed to impress in one way or another. Reaching the small final positively concluded the Deschamps era, marked by a management style where "DD's" talent allowed him to patch up gaps while integrating young players at the right moment. Among them, Olise has become essential, combining brilliance and consistency.

This qualification for the small final was illuminated by the performances of the latter. More than just a support for Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, he established himself as a leader, primarily in attack and, secondarily, as a balancing agent.

Positioned on the field like a tightrope walker, the Bayern Munich player acted as a true playmaker, putting his technique at the service of the collective. In addition to the previously mentioned overhead kick, the Bundesliga footballer showed composure against a very aggressive Paraguay team, adding a touch of elegance to his game. In his demeanor, he managed to keep his cool and dribble along the midfield line to the center circle, from where he launched a crucial pass to his teammates facing repeated assaults from the Paraguayans.