Olise's Freedom: The Tactical Backbone of France

Michael Olise has established himself as the true architect behind the French national team's success at the 2026 World Cup, dominating the action while Kylian Mbappé scores the goals but gives up the tactical leadership. Didier Deschamps' strategy obviously relies on the unfettered license that Olise is given on the pitch. Unlike traditional systems where wingers are often confined to corridors, Olise utilizes the entire width of the pitch.

He regularly pulls back deep to participate in the build-up and then pushes forward with explosive speed. These movement patterns force defenders to get out of formation as they cannot predict whether Olise will cross, pass or shoot. The numbers back up this dominance: Olise leads the team not only in assists, but also in ball contacts in the final third.