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

A 3-1 win to kick off the World Cup: Les Bleus, led by Kylian Mbappe, picked up three crucial points. Getting off to a good start was essential, and the two goals from Mbappe proved decisive. 

However, there was more to it than meets the eye. First, Didier Deschamps'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!

But let's not forget the outstanding performance of Michael Olise.

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.

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.

A tactical masterstroke

The decisive change turned out to be the halftime decision to swap the positions of Ousmane Dembele and Olise, allowing the latter to play in a more central role. He gained more freedom both on and off the ball.

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.

He racked up 0.93 expected assists (xA), for a total of 0.95, the second-highest in the tournament so far; only Pedri did better, with 1.23 against Cape Verde. 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.

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.

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.

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 Paris Saint-Germain star couldn't replicate his club form.

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.

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. 

So it's only logical that FIFA named Olise 'Player of the Match' for his performance against Senegal on Tuesday night.

We'll have to see if Deschamps will adjust his tactics for the second match against Iraq on Monday, as he has done before in major tournaments.