France completed their World Cup preparation with a dominant display against Northern Ireland, securing a 3-1 victory at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The win was crucial after last Thursday’s disappointing defeat to Côte d’Ivoire (1-2), which had left questions about Didier Deschamps’ side heading into the tournament.

• Olise steals the show with a perfect hat-trick. The young winger, facing a Northern Ireland side ranked 70th in the world, was the difference-maker. His first two attempts were blocked by the underdog’s defense just before and after halftime (43rd and 49th minutes), before unleashing his signature curling shot into the top corner from the right wing (75th minute). The only blemish came from Patrick John Kelly’s strike in the 64th minute.
• Parisian duo and Saliba shine. Fresh from their second European title triumph, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué were introduced to the starting lineup, with Doué particularly impressive. Bradley Barcola came off the bench later in the game. William Saliba, who had been battling chronic back issues and was rested for the first match, played the entire first half without any visible discomfort.
• Deschamps bids farewell to French soil. This was Didier Deschamps’ final match as France manager on home soil, with his tenure ending after the World Cup. The Lille crowd honored him with chants of his name at the 7th minute, referencing the number he wore as a player for Les Bleus.