Thuram and Mbappé Share Laughter Over Olise's Pre-Match Rituals

Michael Olise found himself at the heart of a playful moment involving his French national teammates Marcus Thuram and Kylian Mbappé during a World Cup training session. The lighthearted interaction was captured in a video shared by Les Bleus on Instagram, drawing attention to Olise’s distinctive pre-match behavior.

In the clip, Thuram, who plays for Inter Milan, mimics Olise by draping a towel-like item over his face, a gesture reminiscent of Olise’s tendency to cover himself before matches. Mbappé, representing Real Madrid, is seated nearby and observes Thuram’s antics before both burst into laughter. Olise, sitting next to Mbappé close to the pitch, responds with a tired smile as his teammates continue their teasing.

Olise’s habit of inspecting the pitch quickly before games, often with his cap pulled low, has been noted during his time at FC Bayern Munich. He has been seen covering his mouth with a scarf before important matches, such as the Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG, leaving only his eyes visible. This pre-match routine has become a recognizable quirk among his teammates.

Thuram’s imitation included calling out to Mbappé, asking, “Who’s that?” before glancing at the turf and then laughing. Mbappé joined in the amusement, highlighting the camaraderie within the French squad. Olise’s reaction remained subdued, offering only a weary smile and a shake of the head as the teasing continued.

France’s World Cup Prospects and Team Composition

Olise, having secured the domestic double with Bayern last season by winning both the league title and the DFB-Pokal, is now focused on the 2026 World Cup preparations with the French national team at Clairefontaine. As a Ballon d’Or nominee, he is expected to play a significant role in the tournament hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, where France aims for its third World Cup title following victories in 1998 and 2018.

The French squad features a strong attacking lineup led by Olise, Mbappé, and Ousmane Dembélé of PSG. Additional offensive strength comes from Thuram, PSG players Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola, and Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, all of whom contribute to a potent threat against opposing defenses.

Before heading to North America, Les Bleus will participate in two friendly matches on home soil: facing Ivory Coast in Nantes on 4 June and Northern Ireland in Lille on 8 June. France’s World Cup campaign begins on 16 June against Senegal. The group also includes Norway, home to Erling Haaland, and Iraq, with the latter considered the underdog. The group stage concludes with a match against Norway on 26 June.

Michael Olise’s International Career Highlights

Olise made his international debut for France on 6 September 2024 in a Nations League match against Italy, which ended in a 1–3 defeat. He scored his first international goal on 23 March 2025 during a Nations League game against Croatia, contributing to a 7–4 victory after extra time.