Michael Olise and the game-changing tactical switch which saw France beat Senegal

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/senegal-hOIsJLJr/summary/stats/?mid=ALxYcMw2"]A 3-1 win to kick off the World Cup[/a]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]Les Bleus[/a], led by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a], picked up three crucial points. Getting off to a good start was essential, and the two goals from Mbappe proved decisive. [/p][p]However, there was more to it than meets the eye. First, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/deschamps-didier/M9jPX2nf/"]Didier Deschamps[/a]'s team was relatively disappointing in the first half. With only one shot attempted, it was their lowest tally in a group stage match since 1966![/p][p]But let's not forget the outstanding performance of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olise-michael/E5pvwqkK/"]Michael Olise[/a].[/p][image alt="Olise stats vs Senegal" id="d6935c5e-d2cd-498e-948d-956940c62cbd" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Caean Couto / Opta by StatsPerform" guid="fda3d9d2-8c88-4653-baf4-2c83cbf227d2" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]In the first half, Olise's rating was slightly above average (6.8, according to our very own ratings system) thanks to eight successful passes out of 10 in the final third (80%), most of them short passes on the right flank.[/p][p]Only two crosses or passes into the box failed to connect (both from corners) and resulted in neither a shot nor a touch inside the area. These fairly neutral stats quickly changed afterwards.[/p][embed guid="f3ee7833-ae4a-4ece-9595-3fed6598682f" url="https://x.com/OptaJean/status/2067016375386685553" social-type="twitter" /][h2]A tactical masterstroke[/h2][p]The decisive change turned out to be the halftime decision to swap the positions of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dembele-ousmane/zsMC2Ec0/"]Ousmane Dembele[/a] and Olise, allowing the latter to play in a more central role. He gained more freedom both on and off the ball.[/p][p]In the second half, his passing game took off - along with his final rating. He created two clear chances, one of which resulted in a goal.[/p][p]He racked up 0.93 expected assists (xA), for a total of 0.95, the second-highest in the tournament so far; only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] did better, with 1.23 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a]. He completed six out of seven entries into the box, the only failed attempt coming from a corner. Passing-wise, he went 15/16, or 94% successful passes in the final third.[/p][embed guid="55523c17-ccaa-45df-a503-67313bd8ab9c" url="https://x.com/OptaJean/status/2067164625481683426" social-type="twitter" /][p]In terms of finishing, he had two shots for a total xG of 0.36; one of those missed shots slightly lowered his rating as it was classified as a clear-cut chance. He also completed four out of four dribbles in the final third.[/p][p]The whole team benefited from this work, especially Mbappe, who didn't get a single shot on target in the first half but managed four in the second, for a total xG of 0.76.[/p][p]And beyond all these impressive stats, it's worth highlighting the decisive and spectacular nature of the moves initiated by Olise. On the ball, he simply outperformed Dembele. Too timid, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] star couldn't replicate his club form.[/p][p]When Olise moved into the centre, his pressing was much more helpful for France. And when he had the chance to push forward, he did so brilliantly.[/p][p]Above all, his two line-breaking passes were simply breathtaking. The first didn't allow Mbappe to score, but the France captain made up for it a few minutes later by finishing off the Bavarian's assist in style. [/p][image alt="Match momentum." id="31e77ca2-b8bf-458c-80aa-b81b10f3e478" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="11fb9578-bec0-4087-8988-3176e25ef310" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]So it's only logical that FIFA named Olise 'Player of the Match' for his performance against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a] on Tuesday night.[/p][p]We'll have to see if Deschamps will adjust his tactics for the second match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a] on Monday, as he has done before in major tournaments. [/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]