There is something deeply poetic about a player born in London going to a World Cup third-place playoff and thoroughly outclassing England. Michael Olise did exactly that, creating four chances against his country of birth, the most of any player on the pitch.
The numbers behind a breakout tournament
Across seven matches at the tournament, the 24-year-old created 18 chances in total. He also recorded five assists at the tournament, the highest total of any player as of mid-July 2026.
The performance against England was his sharpest single-game display in that regard. France fell short of the final, losing to Spain in the semi-finals. Given that he was born in White City, London on December 12, 2001, the occasion carried an obvious personal dimension.
The choice to play for France
