FOOTBALL – MICHAEL Olise offered another glimpse of the influence he could have at the World Cup, netting a hat-trick as France edged Northern Ireland 3-1 yesterday in a warm-up game in Lille eight days before launching their campaign in the US.
The in-form playmaker continued his rise as one of Les Bleus’ key attacking weapons, but France’s defensive concerns lingered four days after a 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast with a much-changed side exposed frailties at the back.
Netherlands striker Cody Gakpo converted two penalties, one with the last kick of the game, to see his side edge Uzbekistan 2-1 in a warm-up friendly that was played behind closed doors at Icahn Stadium.
Gakpo had opened the scoring with a 31st-minute spot kick and then, two minutes after Uzbekistan had equalised in stoppage time at the end of the game, netted a second penalty for an unconvincing victory.
Colombia beat Jordan 2-0 in their final tune-up before the World Cup. Jhon Arias scored both goals as Colombia for a convincing win.
France open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16 in Group I before facing Iraq and Norway.
Didier Deschamps fielded what is expected to be his starting lineup for France’s opener in New York, with Olise supporting Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue in attack, while William Saliba partnered Dayot Upamecano in central defence.
Les Bleus made a sluggish start, initially struggling to break down a compact low block, creating few clear-cut chances before increasing the tempo and finding a breakthrough just before halftime. Doue burst down the left flank and picked out Dembele in the box. The Paris St Germain forward’s effort was deflected into the path of Olise, who tapped home to give France the lead two minutes before the interval.
Olise struck again four minutes after the restart, lashing a half-volley into the net to double France’s advantage.
Les Bleus, however, switched off defensively at times and, much like they had against Ivory Coast, were punished on the counterattack as Patrick Kelly met Shea Charles’s cross with a fierce finish to pull a goal back.
But Olise put the game beyond doubt in the 75th minute, curling a magnificent strike into the far corner. (More World Cup reports – Pages 30-31)
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