Michael Olise’s hat-trick led France to a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in a World Cup warm-up friendly held Monday, as the French squad prepared to depart for the tournament later this month. Olise’s performance featured clinical finishes on either side of halftime, both goals resulting from rebounds, before he sealed the win with a well-placed curling shot in the 75th minute.

Despite France’s favored status heading into the World Cup, they faced resilient opposition from a young Northern Ireland team that averaged just 22.6 years in age. The visitors demonstrated notable composure and determination throughout the match, a trait credited by Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill, who urged his team to adopt the role of “badly-behaved guests” at France’s farewell match on home soil.

This fighting spirit was rewarded in the 64th minute when Patrick Kelly converted a cross from Shea Charles, pulling a goal back for Northern Ireland and temporarily silencing the home crowd.

France’s coach Didier Deschamps, marking his final match in charge on French territory before the World Cup, selected a lineup closely resembling what is expected to start in their tournament opener against Senegal on June 16. The attacking quartet of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Olise presented a formidable challenge throughout the contest.

While the match highlighted France’s offensive prowess, Northern Ireland’s spirited display underscored the potential of their young squad, offering encouragement despite the result. The encounter served as a final tune-up for France as they aim to maintain their status among the tournament favorites in the coming weeks.