France's World Cup build‑up sees Dembele's rising influence and Olise's hat‑trick in friendly

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Ousmane Dembele has emerged as a leading voice in the France squad, openly advising captain Kylian Mbappé to contribute more defensively and balance the team's play. The shift in locker‑room dynamics has been reported as a natural result of Dembele’s recent club successes, including a Ballon d’Or win and back‑to‑back UEFA Champions League titles.

In France’s final pre‑tournament friendly, the team beat Northern Ireland 3‑1. Michael Olise, playing on the wing, delivered a spectacular hat‑trick, scoring at the 43rd, 48th and 84th minutes, while Dembele provided an assist. Coach Didier Deschamps fielded his strongest attacking lineup – Mbappé, Dembele, Olise and Moussa Doué – and gave Mbappé a modest performance rating of 6.6, compared with Olise’s perfect 10. The win solidifies France’s attacking options as the World Cup approaches.