Zinedine Zidane hailed Michael Olise after France beat Belgium in the Nations League.
It was the second successive 1-0 victory for the new head coach, and this triumph required a wonder goal from the 24-year-old attacker, who assisted Kylian Mbappé against Turkey.
Olise settles it late on
Olise came on for Bradley Barcola in the 77th minute, slalomed forward from the right and neatly tucked the ball into the back of the net to give all three points to Les Bleus. Zidane’s emotional celebration clearly demonstrated his happiness with the moment and the quality of the player.
‘He has a great sense of the game’
Olise is part of one of the most explosive offensive units in club football with Bayern Munich, having hit the ground running since his switch from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024.
The attacker also starred for Les Bleus in their run to the World Cup semi-final, notching seven assists in the tournament, and Zidane explained why Olise is such a special individual to watch.
"I went along with the play and I wanted to be part of it. I sensed he was off on a dribble and he made an exceptional play, so I wanted to follow him. And then I saw the ball there, and I told myself I had to shoot it. It might be a little bit ridiculous, but it doesn't matter.
"I saw him dribble past a defender, and I said to myself, 'He's going to score'. I was cheering him on with all my heart. He is an extraordinary talent. I love this type of player.
“When he plays, he wants to entertain the fans. But it doesn't stop there. He has a great sense of the game, he anticipates opponents' movements, and he knows when to attack and when to drop back."
