France suffered a heavy 0-2 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal, and Michael Olise bore the brunt of the criticism. The Bayern Munich player, who had been the tournament's top assist provider with five, failed to shine against Spain's solid defense and impressive goalkeeper. After a promising start to the competition, Olise's performance declined, particularly against Paraguay, Morocco, and Spain. On Tuesday in Dallas, he lost 20 balls and failed to complete a single dribble, showing signs of nervousness. The Blues, who had scored 18 goals before this match, failed to create any clear chances. Kylian Mbappé, starved of the ball, and Ousmane Dembélé were also neutralized by the Spaniards. Last result: France 2-0 Morocco (2026-07-09).
Why was Olise criticized?
Daniel Riolo, on RMC's After Foot, harshly criticized Michael Olise, comparing him to legends like Zinédine Zidane and Michel Platini. "We were all dazzled. Olise-Mbappé was the best pair we've ever had in the history of the Blues. Olise was put at the table of Zidane and Platini when he's not even in the kitchen yet," he said. Riolo pointed out that Olise's performances were due to the space and comfort he had early in the competition, but that pressure made him regress.
What went wrong for the Blues?
The Blues dominated the tournament until the semifinal, with five consecutive wins. However, against Spain, their attack was ineffective. Olise was replaced by Rayan Cherki in the 72nd minute, but the change wasn't enough. The team lacked creativity and precision, and Mbappé only touched the ball 15 times, with two in the box. Recent form (last 5): 5W-0D-0L (WWWWW, most recent first).
What are the prospects for France?
Despite this loss, the Blues remain a formidable team. Their next match is scheduled against Turkey on September 25, 2026. Currently sidelined: William Saliba, Hugo Ekitiké. The team will need to rebuild and learn from this defeat for future challenges.
