Michael Olise scored a hat-trick in Lille on Monday as France beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up, restoring some confidence eight days before their Group 9 opener against Senegal in New York.
The result was welcome after France lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast four days earlier. They started slowly, struggling to break down a compact Northern Irish defensive block, before Olise opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. Désiré Doué drove down the left and found Dembélé, whose shot deflected into the path of the 24-year-old, who finished.
The Bayern forward added a second just four minutes into the second half, capitalising on a poor clearance. France then conceded the kind of goal that has troubled them across both friendlies: a defensive error led to a counter-attack, which Patrick Kelly finished with a firm strike after a cross from Shea Charles. Olise closed it out in the 75th minute with a curling effort into the far corner.
Didier Deschamps used a lineup close to what he is expected to field against Senegal on 16 June, with Olise alongside Mbappé, Dembélé and Doué in attack, and Saliba and Upamecano at centre-back. The two pre-tournament friendlies have shown that the back line remains a concern, one the win over Northern Ireland has not fully resolved.
France are in Group 9, which also includes Iraq and Norway.
