- Mbappe hits a brace as France beat Iraq 3-0 after a two-hour storm delay
- Dembele and Olise combine for a slick third; Olise leads the assist charts
- Les Bleus’ deep bench – Tchouameni, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde – underpins title tilt
The World Cup’s headliners are doing the business: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland – all rattling in early doubles – with Harry Kane eyeing his moment against Ghana. But the real French story isn’t just Mbappe’s fireworks; it’s the perfect platform around him that’s turning a great side into potential champions.
Against Iraq in Philadelphia, France shrugged off a two-hour thunderstorm delay and returned with more purpose, cruising to a professional 3-0. Mbappe grabbed two and might easily have had four. Yet the revelation – or confirmation, if you’ve been watching closely – was the chemistry between Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise. And if you’re tracking form lines (and a glance at the football betting sites UK chatter), this supporting cast matters as much as the headline act.
Dembele and Olise Give Mbappe the Platform
Olise floated cleverly between the lines, clipped the woodwork with a smart lob, and kept demanding the ball. Dembele forced a sharp save, flashed one into the side netting, then the pair delivered the moment of the match: Olise’s slide-rule pass found Dembele, one touch to set, and a ruthless low finish into the far corner. That’s devastating, top-level timing – the kind of sequence that kills knockout ties.
The Bayern Munich creator is knitting France’s attacks together with assurance, and he leads the assist charts with three in two games (level with Alexander Isak). He’s not the pure finisher Mbappe is, but he’s become one of the game’s elite providers. As for Dembele, the current Ballon d’Or holder plays the grown-up in the room: direct, disciplined, and clinical when it counts. If France are going the distance, his goals and decision-making will be pivotal.
Depth to Match the Drama
What really separates this France from 2022 is the breadth behind the stars. From Aurelien Tchouameni to William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Joules Kounde, plus livewires like Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, Deschamps has answers across the pitch. Yes, sterner opponents will ask tougher questions of the midfield and back line, but this attack can shoulder Mbappe’s burden and amplify his output at the same time.
France didn’t just beat a weaker side; they showed a structure that lets their superstar thrive without carrying everyone. Keep Dembele and Olise humming like this, and Les Bleus won’t just be contenders – they’ll be the standard.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
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As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
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