Michael Olise replaces Dembélé and decides France’s Nations League meeting with Belgium

Michael Olise came on for Ousmane Dembélé in France’s UEFA Nations League match against Belgium last week and transformed the closing stages, setting up a goal in the 80th minute before scoring twice — seven minutes later and then in the 90th minute — as France turned the contest into a rout.

The substitution occurred after France manager Zinedine Zidane made changes in the 60th minute to galvanize his team; Dembélé handed Olise the captain’s armband when he left the field. A close-up clip of that exchange shows Olise looking bemused at receiving the armband, and the stadium response when he entered underlined his stature with home supporters who had cheered him through the World Cup, where he provided seven assists. He had also scored a late winner against Belgium at the end of September.

Dembélé had been active earlier in the match but was repeatedly doubled or tripled by Belgium’s defenders, limiting his effectiveness as they closed him down and recovered after his extra touches. The article describes Dembélé as not the best passer who would often dally on the ball, giving opponents time to regroup, which prompted Zidane’s decision to alter the midfield and bring Olise on.

The scoring sequence began before Olise’s decisive contributions: Désiré Doué, who had been substituted on for Bradley Barcola prior to Olise’s arrival, levelled the game. Once France were level, Olise assumed control of the final phase of the match, first beating his defender down the line in the 80th minute and cutting the ball back for Rayan Cherki to finish.

Seven minutes after that assist, Olise received a pass from Doué on the right side of the box, where the article says he was held by several defenders but still managed “a weak shot with his right foot that took the goalkeeper by surprise and went in the bottom left corner.” Three minutes later, in the 90th minute, Doué found him again and with one touch Olise “slotted the ball home through the keeper’s legs.” The report notes this was his fourth goal in the last four matches.

On style and perception, the piece addresses accusations of nonchalance directed at Olise and suggests that what appears like ease on the ball is not a lack of effort but an economy of movement. The author compares that economy to Zidane’s way of playing and contrasts it with Dembélé’s numerous attacking options, which the article argues can sometimes weigh him down. It also records that Olise’s precise control, measured pushing of the ball and generally sound decision-making distinguish his play, even if his inability to score during the World Cup had made it seem as though he were under a curse.

The article also criticises the contemporary focus on the Ballon d’Or, saying that the campaigning by players and teams, and the partisan attacks among fans, have warped how supporters evaluate players and diminished appreciation for the variety of approaches displayed by top performers. The writer lists other attacking talents — Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Raphinha, Harry Kane and Rodri — as examples of players whose different solutions to the game supply that sense of wonder.

Olise’s contribution against Belgium — one assist and two goals after coming on — completed a scoring run that the article records as four goals in his last four matches, a run that followed his World Cup campaign in which he supplied seven assists.