Zidane: What Ousmane Did Was Extraordinary

Zinedine Zidane, coach of the French national team, praised the performance of substitute Michael Olise after he scored two goals in France’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Belgium. Speaking at a press conference after the match, Zidane said, “Olise’s performance was simply exceptional.” He added, in reference to his first international camp as head coach of France, which has won three of its four matches: “This is encouraging, and I am very optimistic about the future. I am happy with the results; we have collected 10 points. Regardless of the wins and points, the greatest satisfaction comes from the good work we have done with the players and the coaching staff. It was very important to spend 15 days playing at a high level. There are aspects that need improvement, but these will develop gradually. We can deliver a better performance, and we will.” Zidane expressed regret only for the “lack of attacking effectiveness in the final 25–30 meters, as was the case in the previous three matches.” He continued, “We need to press more inside the penalty area and involve more players in the attack to be more effective. But when we equalized, the course of the match changed completely. It is a reward for everyone, and it concludes the 15-day camp on a very positive note.”