Michael Olise scored a hat-trick as France beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up match on Monday night in Lille.
The Bayern Munich star led a strong France attack that included Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele.
Doue and Dembele returned to the team after missing France’s previous friendly against Ivory Coast. The pair had rested after helping Paris Saint-Germain win the UEFA Champions League.
France coach Didier Deschamps also brought back Arsenal defender William Saliba. The lineup closely resembled the side expected to face Senegal in France’s opening World Cup match on June 16 in New Jersey.
France created several chances but struggled to find their best rhythm. Mbappe had a quiet game and remains one goal away from matching Olivier Giroud’s all-time scoring record for France.
Despite their attacking struggles, France kept pushing forward. The pressure paid off when Olise reacted quickest to score from a rebound just before half-time.
The winger struck again shortly after the break. His second goal gave the hosts a comfortable lead and put Northern Ireland under more pressure.
The visitors pulled one back in the 64th minute through Patrick Kelly of Barnsley. The goal gave Northern Ireland brief hope of a comeback.
However, Olise ended any doubts 10 minutes later. He curled a superb left-footed shot into the net from outside the penalty area to complete his hat-trick.
The victory gives France a confidence boost ahead of the World Cup. Olise’s performance also highlighted the quality available in Deschamps’ attacking options.
