In the friendly match where France defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 in Lille on 8/6, Mbappe played the full 90 minutes, taking 6 shots but none on target. In the friendly lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast a few days earlier, Mbappe played the first half and also did not score.

Kylian Mbappe (right) dribbles in France's 3-1 friendly win over Northern Ireland in Lille, France on 8/6/2026. Photo: Reuters

Despite this, Coach Deschamps remains calm. "It's true that he had many chances but couldn't convert them. Mbappe told me he's saving his goals for America, so that's fine with me," the 57-year-old coach said with a laugh.

In the final friendly before the 2026 World Cup, the French team dominated with 66% possession, 23 shots with 5 on target – compared to Northern Ireland's 4 shots and 2 on target. While Mbappe went goalless, Michael Olise shone with a hat-trick and received a perfect 10 rating from Sofascore.

Deschamps praised Olise for his confidence and impact on the attack. "He is in very good form, just like what he showed for Bayern Munich this season," he said. "He is not someone who shows much emotion, but he is thriving and doing everything to maintain the highest level. We need Olise at his best."

Michael Olise reacts after scoring his second goal. Photo: Reuters

Another notable detail is that Olise did not celebrate any of his hat-trick goals against Northern Ireland. For Bayern, the French player rarely shows joy after scoring. This habit often becomes a topic of discussion in German media, though there has never been a clear explanation from Olise himself.

The 24-year-old player is also not interested in interviews, even after matches where he performed well. This attacking midfielder always maintains a calm and private image.

Oliver Glasner, Olise's former coach at Crystal Palace, described him as an introverted, quiet person who let his on-field performance speak for itself. "Everyone prefers a talent like Olise, who delivers results on the pitch, rather than someone who talks a lot but doesn't deliver on promises," Glasner told Kicker magazine last year. "Olise is a great person. The important thing is that he is accepted for his own style."

Olise did not wear Bayern Munich's 2025-2026 Bundesliga championship celebration shirt. Photo: FC Bayern

When Bayern won the Bundesliga this season, Olise also caused controversy by not wearing the team's commemorative jersey, not appearing in the team photo, and maintaining a calm demeanor while his teammates celebrated. The incident sparked many debates among fans and was reported by numerous German news agencies.

Center-back Jonathan Tah, Olise's teammate at Bayern Munich, stated that his quiet public image is far from the player's true self in the locker room. "He is very open, not the type to sit in a corner and say nothing. On the contrary, he communicates a lot and often plays music," Tah shared with Sky. "It's not like what people see from the outside. Maybe he's more discreet in front of cameras, which is completely normal. But with us, he is certainly much more open."

At the 2026 World Cup, France is in a group with Senegal, Norway, and Iraq. According to supercomputer Opta, Mbappe and his teammates have a 13% chance of winning the championship, ranking only behind Spain (16,1%).

Hong Duy