France's attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé have been a revelation at the 2026 World Cup, leading Les Bleus to score at least three goals in each of their last four matches. Their dominance has been so pronounced that France appears to be toying with opponents, often choosing not to run up the score. This transformation comes as manager Didier Deschamps, who will step down after the tournament, has shifted from his traditional iron-fist approach to a more laissez-faire style, allowing his star players to dictate the game.
Deschamps' New Philosophy
Deschamps, who lost his mother last week, has spent 14 years building rigid, conservative sides that engineered victories through control rather than flair. Despite reaching the Euro 2016 final, winning the 2018 World Cup, and losing the 2022 final on penalties, he has now embraced a 'Great Man Theory' for football, handing creative control to Mbappé, Dembélé, and Olise. This attacking triumvirate has been working out a system on the fly, with Olise thriving underneath Mbappé, who has finally accepted the lone striker role, and Jules Koundé utilized through underlapping runs from right back.
Dominance Against Sweden
In a last-32 match against Sweden in New Jersey, played in 93°F (34°C) heat, France cruised to a 3-0 victory that felt far more lopsided. Mbappé opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a curling finish after Olise and Dembélé combined on a corner. In the 53rd minute, Olise threaded a through ball between Gustaf Lagerbielke's legs to Bradley Barcola for the second goal. Mbappé added his second in the 74th minute, receiving an immaculate pass from Olise to tie Lionel Messi atop the tournament's scoring charts. France had 13 goals in four matches, one fewer than their entire 2018 campaign.
Olise's Impact
Michael Olise, who also hit the post with a bicycle kick, was instrumental in the victory. Deschamps praised him, saying, 'Michael is playing top-notch football. When he has the ball, it's very good. Michael is an introvert. But he's not an introvert on the field.' Substitute Malo Gusto summed up Olise's performance with one word: 'Magnifique.' Mbappé, who earned man of the match, noted, 'We're going to score more.' France's ability to control the game while still evolving their tactics has made them a formidable force.
