For those that have been watching the recent career trajectory of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, it should not have come as too much of a surprise when Didier Deschamps made the decision to call him up for France’s upcoming pair of UEFA Nations League matches.
France is set to play host to Italy before hosting Belgium during this month’s international break and Olise was called up alongside Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano. Fellow Bayern compatriot Kingsley Coman did not get a nod this time around from Deschamps.
Per information from French outlet L’Equipe (via @iMiaSanMia), Olise is set to be included in the French starting eleven for the match against Italy at the Parc des Princes. In what as been predicted as a 4-2-3-1 lineup, Olise is predicted to start in between Randal Kolo Muani and Bradley Barcola in the French attack, all of whom will be slotted behind frontman Kylian Mbappe. The former Crystal Palace man and Olympic silver medalist would me operating in what would appear to be aa central attacking midfield role for Les Bleus in what will be a fantastic opportunity for the 22-year-old.
From a Bayern perspective, Olise in the French side as a central attacking midfielder will be an interesting watch. So far for the Rekordmeister this season, Olise has been utilized as a winger off of the right side, with Jamal Musiala slotting in between him and Serge Gnabry on the opposite flank, all of whom are tucked just behind Harry Kane. Musiala’s individual brilliance on the ball and in tight spaces is part of what makes him the best fit for the more central role, but there is a fair amount if interchangeability that occurs with all of Bayern’s players, as will likely be the case in the French senior squad.
For Olise’s future and continued prospects in the French senior team under Deschamps, there is, of course, plenty of time before the 2026 World Cup, but he will certainly want to be called up for as many of the World Cup qualifiers as possible. Even U-23 manager Thierry Henry would argue that Olise has already outgrown that side and deserves to be playing in the senior squad, so hopefully it will work out for him.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on the current state of Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany? What about four key storylines to follow after international break? Or…what about why Jamal Musiala snubbing by the Ballon d’Or committee might create some longer-term issues for the Bavarians? Great, then we have you covered with this latest edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show! You can get the podcast on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
