NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Michael Olise completed his hat-trick with a brilliant curler as France beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in their final World Cup preparation on Monday.
It was also the last match on French soil for coach Didier Deschamps, who is leaving the World Cup after 14 years at the helm of the Blues. He picked out Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a scintillating attack alongside Olise and Désiré Doué.
Olise scored from close range in the 43rd minute after Dembélé’s shot was blocked, then grabbed his second of the evening in the 49th, racing close to the penalty spot after Northern Ireland failed to clear a cross from the right.
Saving his best for last, the light-footed winger broke away from the right wing and fired an unstoppable shot into the top left corner from 20 yards in the 75th.
Olise has scored 22 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich this season and looks to be a sure World Cup starter for two-time champions France – runners-up to Argentina four years ago – against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey.
After Olise’s second goal, the French defense fell asleep in Lille, in the north of the country, and Patrick Kelly scored a cross midway through the second half for Northern Ireland.
Mbappé failed to add to his 56 international goals and remained behind France’s all-time top scorer, Olivier Giroud.
