Olise became a target of the French press after the elimination — and the Zidane comparison says it all
After France's elimination by Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, the French press tore into Olise with a brutal comparison to Platini and Zidane.
France entered the 2026 World Cup semi-final with an attack that had every supporter salivating. Mbappé, Dembélé, Barcola, Désiré Doué — and Michael Olise, the name generating the most excitement. Spain, however, was not impressed.
After the elimination, the French press was merciless with Olise. The phrase that spread sums up the feeling: "We placed him at the table alongside Platini and Zidane, but he isn't even in the kitchen." Harsh. Blunt. And revealing of just how far the hype surrounding the forward had outrun what he actually delivered on the pitch.
The French squad reached the semi-final carrying one of the most hyped attacking lines of the tournament — and left without making the final. Spain, meanwhile, confirmed what Golmetria's model had already indicated: the Spaniards entered that stage with an 82.69% chance of reaching the final, compared to just 2.86% for France. The gap was enormous before the opening whistle even blew.
What makes France's exit even more painful is the contrast between the announced potential and the concrete result. Olise was built up as the next great name of his generation — and the World Cup exposed the fact that crafting a narrative is far easier than living up to a comparison with Zidane.
The question that lingers now: what needs to change for France to become a genuine powerhouse again, rather than simply a showcase of talents that never convert into trophies?