Deschamps rallies behind Olise after semifinal nightmare: “You’re being too harsh”

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In the aftermath of France’s heartbreaking 2-0 World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain, a storm of criticism has descended upon Michael Olise. But head coach Didier Deschamps has come out fighting for his young playmaker, insisting the backlash is unfair and that the Bayern Munich star’s tournament should be remembered for its brilliance, not its ending.

“I think you’re being a bit harsh,” Deschamps told reporters, pushing back against the torrent of criticism. “He wasn’t at his best against Spain, just like some of the others. He’s still got plenty of room to improve. Of course he’ll get even better”.

A Semifinal to Forget

The numbers from Tuesday night are brutal. In 72 minutes on the pitch, Olise registered zero shots, zero successful dribbles, and lost possession 20 times from just 55 touches. He won only half of his 12 duels and completed just one of four crosses. L’Équipe awarded him a damning 3 out of 10.

Perhaps most tellingly, Olise and Kylian Mbappé—France’s two creative hubs—exchanged just a single pass throughout the entire match, a staggering drop from the 66 passes they had combined for in previous games.

The criticism has been merciless. French broadcaster Daniel Riolo, speaking on RMC’s After Foot, delivered the most scathing verdict: “We had Olise sitting at the same table as Platini and Zidane, and he’s not even in their kitchen”. Riolo admitted he regretted the praise he had heaped on the 24-year-old over the past month.

Deschamps: Context Matters

But Deschamps refused to let one poor performance define Olise’s tournament.

“The big occasion and the emotional side of it are also a factor,” the France boss explained. “But if there’s one player who truly broke through at this World Cup, it’s him. And on top of that, he’s a genuinely great person. He will reach even greater heights”.

Deschamps also reminded critics that context matters—Spain’s midfield dominance, orchestrated by Rodri and Fabián Ruiz, overwhelmed not just Olise but the entire French team.

“Sometimes things just don’t click, and you also have to give credit to the opponent,” he said.

The Upamecano Comparison

To illustrate his point, Deschamps reached for a compelling example from his own squad.

“I’ll use Dayot Upamecano as an example,” he said. “Now he’s an absolute monster, but it took him time to get there too”.

The comparison is apt. Upamecano, now 27 and a cornerstone of France’s defense, endured his own share of growing pains earlier in his international career. Today, he is one of the most respected centre-backs in world football. Deschamps’ message was clear: greatness is not built overnight.

A Tournament to Remember, Despite the Ending

For all the recrimination of the past 48 hours, Olise’s World Cup was, by any measure, extraordinary. He finished the tournament with five assists—more than any other player. He was the tournament’s creative leader, topping FIFA’s Creativity Score rankings. He attempted 14 shots, won 12 corners—more than any other player among the leading assist providers—and delivered 11 through balls, more than anyone else at the tournament.

He had been the architect-in-chief of France’s run to the semifinals.

What Comes Next

France now face England in the third-place play-off, a match that offers Olise and his teammates a chance to end the tournament on a positive note. Beyond that, Deschamps is confident that the Bayern Munich star will use this disappointment as fuel.

“He will reach even greater heights,” the coach insisted.

For now, Olise must endure the fallout from one bad night. But if Deschamps is right—and if history is any guide—this semifinal nightmare may one day be remembered not as the moment he fell short, but as the moment his legend truly began.

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France face England in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday, July 18. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM ET.