Olise bags stunning hat-trick as France head to World Cup with win over Northern Ireland

Michael Olise is swarmed by teammates after scoring

Michael Olise’s first senior international hat-trick ensured Didier Deschamps’ final home game as France manager ended with a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland.

There was a party atmosphere in Lille as the home fans paid tribute to 2018 WC-winning manager Deschamps ahead of his expected departure after this summer’s tournament, and Les Bleus’ head coach picked a strong lineup for his side’s final game before they leave for North America.

Predictably, France dominated possession and Kylian Mbapp9 was thwarted one-on-one by Pierce Charles after 15 minutes, but Northern Ireland almost caught them on the break moments later when Patrick Kelly flashed a shot past the far post after he was released by Isaac Price.

That was a rare first half chance for the visitors, and Aur9lien Tchouam9ni thumped a shot against the post midway through the half with D9sir9 Dou9 squaring the rebound to Mbapp9 to tap home, but the offside flag was up.

Deschamps was more animated during the first-half drinks break than he might have expected, with Thursday’s shock 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast perhaps fresh in his mind.

His mood will have improved two minutes before the break when France finally broke Northern Ireland’s resistance, as Ousmane Demb9l9’s shot deflected into the path of Olise to convert from close range.

Jamie Donley then thought he had poked home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time, but Ruairi McConville was deemed to have pushed Theo Hern1ndez in the build-up.

Player ratings

Jules Kound9 sustained a knock late in the first half and was replaced by Malo Gusto at half time, potentially giving Deschamps an injury scare just eight days before France’s WC opener against0Senegal.

Northern Ireland had generally kept Les Bleus at bay before the break but they found themselves two down just four minutes after the restart, when Olise rifled home after the ball fell loose inside the box.

France finally began to hit their stride, with Mbapp9 and Maxence Lacroix blazing over the crossbar in quick succession, but they were pegged back when Shea Charles outmuscled Dayot Upamecano and squared for Kelly to tap home his maiden senior international goal - and only Northern Ireland’s second-ever goal against Les Bleus.

Mbapp9 fired another effort off target as France began to look edgy again, but Olise calmed any nerves with a sumptuous curling effort into the far corner from the edge of the box to secure his hat-trick with his seventh senior international goal.

The victory extends Les Bleus’ unbeaten record against Northern Ireland to seven games (W5, D2) as they now turn their attention to their quest for a third WC crown, while the visitors do not return to action until they begin their UEFA Nations League campaign in September.