An Unfamiliar Role at the World Cup: Here’s How France Plans to Use Bayern Star Olise | OneFootball

Michael Olise impressed as an assist provider in the World Cup opener against Senegal. It is now becoming clear what role the Bayern star is expected to play for France as the tournament progresses.

Michael Olise is currently one of the defining figures on the French national team. Following his outstanding debut season with FC Bayern and a strong start to the World Cup, his influence with Les Bleus continues to grow.

As reported by the French TV network Canal+, the Équipe Tricolore’s coaching staff plans to increasingly rely on Olise as a central playmaker going forward. According to the report, the 24-year-old is expected to take on the role of the classic number 10 more often during the World Cup—rather than playing on the right attacking wing as he usually does.

This shift was already evident in the 3-1 opening victory against Senegal.

France struggled for long stretches and initially had little success against the Africans’ compact defense. It wasn’t until Olise moved more into the center as the game progressed and took on the role behind the strikers that France increasingly gained control of the match.

According to Canal+, the French coaching staff identified this phase as the decisive turning point of the match. Olise structured the offensive play, created space, and made the attacks significantly more varied.

Olise impresses as a creative playmaker

The stats certainly speak for the Bayern star. Against Senegal, Olise set up two goals for Kylian Mbappé and was subsequently named Man of the Match.

Even before the World Cup, French legend Thierry Henry had raved about the attacking player’s special abilities.

“Michael Olise—it’s that simple,” Henry replied when asked which player he was particularly looking forward to seeing at the World Cup.

The 1998 World Cup champion was particularly impressed by Olise’s game intelligence: “He’s a coach’s dream. I had the opportunity to coach him—he doesn’t just play the game; he thinks the game. That’s what sets him apart from the others, in my opinion.”

It is precisely these qualities that could now lead to Olise taking on a more central role in the French system on a permanent basis.

Bayern is closely monitoring his development

The latest developments are likely being followed closely at FC Bayern as well. In Munich, Olise is known primarily for his play on the wings, where he regularly makes a difference with his dynamism, technique, and creativity.

However, his performances at the World Cup show that the Frenchman can also make an outstanding impact in the center. There, he receives the ball even more frequently, controls the tempo, and can make the most of his vision.

Photo: IMAGO

Meanwhile, speculation about his future continues unabated. Most recently, Real Madrid has once again been linked to the Frenchman. According to a report from Spain, Los Blancos are even considering an offer of more than 200 million euros.

Bayern Munich, however, has no intention of selling him. Instead, talks about an early contract extension are set to begin after the World Cup.

Olise himself is currently focused exclusively on the World Cup anyway. If he continues to perform well in his new position, his importance to France could grow significantly in the coming weeks.