As a cat toys with a cornered mouse, it meticulously plans its next move, demonstrating both focus and control. This analogy aptly describes France’s performance at the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus have consistently netted three goals in each of their last four matches, showcasing their capability to dominate their opponents, often appearing to have more in reserve if needed.
Remarkably, however, France is still defining its identity in this tournament. Much like a talented art student who has yet to master their craft despite innate ability, Didier Deschamps’ squad is undergoing a significant evolution right before our eyes.
For 14 years, Deschamps has overseen a series of disciplined and conservative teams, regardless of the abundance of talent at his disposal. These meticulously organized squads engineered victories through strategic control rather than spontaneous creativity. The results speak for themselves: a Euro 2016 final, a World Cup victory in 2018, and a runner-up finish in the 2022 final.
Transformative Leadership Ahead of Departure
As Deschamps prepares to step down following this World Cup, having recently faced personal loss with his mother’s passing, he appears committed to a fresh approach. In this final chapter of his tenure, he has adopted a more adventurous style, entrusting Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and the emerging talent Michael Olise with leading the attack that has dismantled their opponents.
This trio is actively developing a cohesive strategy as they navigate matches. Olise has proven more effective playing in a position just behind Mbappé, who has finally accepted the central striker role he previously resisted. Through experimentation, they have discovered that Jules Koundé thrives with underlapping runs from the right-back position. The overwhelming performance of the French team in this tournament has allowed them to refine their tactics while maintaining dominance.
“We’re going to score more,” said France substitute Malo Gusto. “Michael is playing top-notch football. When he has the ball, it’s very good,”
During a sweltering New Jersey afternoon, with temperatures feeling like 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius) at kickoff, France emphatically outperformed Sweden in a last-32 clash, concluding with a 3-0 scoreline that felt even more one-sided. France’s arsenal had plenty of gears left to engage, yet they chose to conserve energy.
Decisive Moments in the Match
The first warning came from Mbappé, whose goal was disallowed in the 20th minute due to a marginal offside. Adrien Rabiot threatened with several attempts, while Mbappé nearly converted a well-executed French attack, hitting the near post.
Olise showcased his extraordinary skill with a bicycle kick that hit the near post, followed by Dembélé sending the rebound just wide. Frustration mounted for Mbappé as he recognized it was time for decisive action.
More magic from Olise followed, as his outside-the-box shot was parried wide by goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström. From the subsequent corner, Olise and Dembélé combined to set up Mbappé, who navigated past two defenders to score the opening goal, igniting celebration as he embraced Deschamps.
In the 53rd minute, an Olise through ball found Bradley Barcola, doubling the score to 2-0.
While the French defense occasionally appeared shaky, they were untroubled by Sweden’s attacking efforts, allowing them the luxury of being somewhat wasteful in front of goal.
In the 74th minute, Olise delivered another precise ball to Mbappé, placing him alongside Lionel Messi at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts. However, Mbappé remained unfazed, stating, “Michael is an introvert. But he’s not an introvert on the field.”
Looking Ahead and Team Dynamics
Indeed, France could have increased their tally, but what was the necessity? With 13 goals in four matches, they are just one short of their total from the entire 2018 World Cup campaign.
As the match drew to a close, both Mbappé and Olise were substituted in the 85th minute, receiving heartfelt embraces from Deschamps. Mbappé earned the man-of-the-match honors for his goals, while Olise played a pivotal role in the victory.
“Michael is playing top-notch football. When he has the ball, it’s very good,” Deschamps remarked. “Michael is an introvert. But he’s not an introvert on the field.”
Gusto succinctly summarized Olise’s performance with one word: “Magnifique.”
In that moment, he echoed the sentiments of the entire squad.
- Leander Schaerlaeckens is the author of The Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, which is out now. He teaches at Marist University.
