How France finally found the perfect supporting cast for Kylian Mbappe | OneFootball

One of the main storylines of the World Cup so far has been the world’s biggest stars delivering on the greatest stage of all.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and now Erling Haaland have all scored two or more goals in both of their first two matches this summer, with Harry Kane hoping to join them when England face Ghana on Tuesday night.

It’s a fitting start to sport’s grandest event, with four of the world’s best delivering the type of performances that fans had hoped for before the tournament started.

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Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe (2) got the goals as France secured a 3-0 win over Iraq (Reuters)

But while the biggest names continue to grab the headlines with their goalscoring exploits as the tournament begins, several players are more subtly going about their business, and none more so than Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.

France’s 3-0 win over Iraq looks like an expected result against a markedly weaker side given the quality in Didier Deschamps’ squad, and while Les Bleus probably should have scored more goals, it was a professional display in a match where the second half was delayed for two hours due to thunderstorms.

Such a delay could throw any team off their rhythm, but France returned to the pitch at the Philadelphia Stadium with even more attacking intent and the necessary verve and invention to back it up.

Mbappe, who scored a brace but could have had four, grabbed the headlines once again in a superb display, but both Dembele and Olise – who started in the middle and on the right respectively – were dangerous throughout, with both producing moments to showcase their own brilliance.

Olise hit the woodwork with an inventive lob that had left Ahmed Basil flailing, while Dembele forced a good save from the Iraq goalkeeper moments later and then rifled against the side-netting before the duo combined to devastating effect.

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Dembele’s goal illustrated the role that both himself and Olise will have to play in France’s success this summer (Getty)

For the third goal, Olise slid an inch-perfect pass into the area that allowed Dembele to take a clever touch before rifling low into the far corner. It was a great example of their ability to produce slick, devastating moves and moments of real quality in an instant, as well as a reminder that this is a duo that perfectly complements the team’s star man.

Thankfully for Les Bleus, both players entered the summer in superb form and they seem to have picked up from where they left off at the end of the domestic season.

Olise arrives in North America having marked himself out as one of the world’s best all-round attackers, while Dembele comes into the tournament off the back of a Ballon d’Or and two Champions League triumphs in a row.

Olise’s ability to float around all areas in the final third is an invaluable tool to a France side with such gifted finishers, and the Bayern Munich man was knitting things together in Philadelphia once again as he did against Senegal.

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Michael Olise drifts around the final third of the pitch (Reuters)

While his first assist owes plenty to Mbappe, his second laid it on a plate for Dembele, as was the case against Senegal when a remarkable pass took three players out of the game to allow Mbappe to bundle in. Though he doesn’t possess the same goalscoring threat as his teammates, the man who started his career at Hayes & Yeading United has become one of the world’s best creators, and he currently leads the assist charts with three in his opening two games (tied with Sweden striker Alexander Isak).

As for Dembele, while his brilliance needs no explanation as the current Ballon d’Or holder, his role in the France set-up often means he is not as celebrated as Mbappe. But his finish for the third goal was an accomplished one, and if France are to go the distance this summer, it feels like his goals will be important at some point.

This duo will act as the main supporting cast for France talisman Mbappe, though there is strength throughout the team. This was also true in 2022, but the range of talent is wider this year, from the aforementioned duo to league winners such as Aurelien Tchouameni, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Joules Kounde, as well as players such as Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue.

There could be more questions asked of the midfield unit and the defence as Les Bleus face more difficult opposition, but the attacking unit is the most talented in the world, and it can shoulder some of the burden for Mbappe while also contributing to his own goalscoring exploits.

So, while there are question marks over some of the rest of the team, perhaps Dembele and Olise have just one thing left to prove – that they are good enough to lead their side to the World Cup.