France’s forward No. 7 Michael Olise celebrates his team’s second goal in the men’s gold medal final football match between France and Spain during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Parc des Princes in Paris on August 9, 2024. Photo: Franck FIFE / AFP.
English-born winger Michael Olise was rewarded for his impressive performances for France at the Olympics by being called up to the full French national team Thursday.
Recall that their UEFA Nations League campaign is next month.
The 22-year-old was born and brought up in London to a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother.
He’s arguably the standout player in Thierry Henry’s France team that won the Olympic silver medal at the Paris Games earlier this month.
Olise has also recently joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace for a reported 60 million euros ($66.6m), off the back of scoring 10 goals in 19 games in the Premier League last season.
“Michael did great things with Thierry Henry’s Olympic team. And he has moved up into a new category with his transfer to Bayern Munich,” coach Didier Deschamps told reporters.
“It is quite logical that he should now come with us. He still has progress to make but potentially he has a lot of quality.
France host Italy at the Parc des Princes in Paris next Friday, September 6, before taking on Belgium three days later in Lyon.
Olise is not the only member of the Olympic squad to make the step up. 23-year-old Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder, Manu Kone, also got the call from Deschamps.
There is also a return to the squad for Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana, 23. His only cap so far came in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar over a year ago.
Besides Olise, Kylian Mbappe will feature for France for the first time since making his debut for new club Real Madrid.
Some players who went to Euro 2024 in Germany — where France reached the semi-final — have been left out this time. They include Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard, Bayern winger Kingsley Coman, and midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
