France Coach Deschamps Explains Midfield Switch That Turned Senegal Clash

France manager Didier Deschamps has revealed that a key tactical adjustment during their 3-1 win over Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup played a major role in turning the match in their favour.

The French side were made to work hard in their Group stage opener as Senegal pressed aggressively and disrupted their rhythm in the first half.

Despite flashes of quality from Kylian Mbappé, France struggled to fully control proceedings before the break.

Deschamps explained that the game shifted after he moved Michael Olise from the left flank into a more central role. The adjustment allowed the Bayern Munich attacker to operate between the lines, giving France greater control in midfield and improving their attacking transitions.

Olise quickly became the creative hub of the team, dictating play with his vision and passing. His influence was most evident in the build-up to Mbappé’s opening goal, where a precise pass unlocked the Senegal defence. He also played a part in the move that led to France’s third goal, further underlining his impact.

Mbappé eventually stole the headlines with a brace, but Olise’s performance earned him Man of the Match recognition as France recovered from a difficult first half to secure all three points.

Deschamps admitted his side were not at their sharpest in the opening period, but praised the improvement after the tactical change.

He noted that Olise’s ability to receive and distribute the ball in central areas helped France play with more fluidity and purpose.

The French coach also defended Mbappé against criticism, describing his captain as a decisive player capable of changing games in a single moment.

He added that breaking France’s scoring record at a World Cup stage further highlighted his importance to the team.

France will now turn their attention to their next Group fixture against Iraq, where they will aim to build on their winning start.