Michael Olise is arguably the player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far, and if you're still scratching your head at that, you're not alone. Former England international Stephen Warnock, who just wrapped up his BBC co-commentator gig at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and he's not holding back. He summed it up perfectly when talking about Olise's unexpected rise: "I don’t think many people would have seen him at Crystal Palace as a potential Ballon d’Or winner."
France Is Rolling, Thanks to This Guy
Warnock ain't just blowing smoke; he picked France as the favorites before the tournament even kicked off and hasn't wavered a bit. He's got Spain, Argentina, and England still in the mix, and sure, he thinks England *could* pull off a win in a one-off final. But France? They're still his clear favorites, and it's easy to see why. Their forward line? Absolutely stacked. They've got depth that lets them flip the game on its head in a heartbeat, injecting raw pace, pure guile, and straight-up finishers off the bench. It's wild. But Olise, man, he's the real deal. Forget just banging in goals; this dude's the difference maker, the guy who can snap the game open in a split second, whether it's that surgical pass or just burning a defender one-on-one. He's the engine, no doubt.Can Anyone Exploit France's Backline?
But hold up, it's not all sunshine and rainbows for France: that defense of theirs. Warnock himself pointed out they *can* be exposed. Lucas Digne, for all his brilliance, can get torched by fast wingers. And Dayot Upamecano? Dude makes the "odd mistake," gets a little too comfy sometimes. But even with those worries, France's squad is just the best, period. We saw it when Morocco, who everyone thought would be their biggest test, struggled to lay a glove on them. Morocco was missing Ismael Saibari, sure, which changed their attacking options, but France still absolutely dismantled them. Seriously, it looked *too easy* at points. Now they face Spain in the semi-finals. Spain has only given up one goal all tournament, against Belgium in their last game, and Warnock figures they'll hog the ball. The big test is gonna be how France's center-backs handle Spain's false nine, Mikel Oyarzabal, and all those sneaky rotations with Dani Olmo. That's a serious headache waiting to happen! And hey, keep an eye on Nico Williams' fitness for Spain; he subbed in against Belgium, but will he be fit enough to really make an impact? This semi-final against Spain is gonna be a massive test for France, especially with those defensive questions looming. But with Olise playing like the player of the tournament and that insane offensive depth, France has every reason to feel confident heading into what could be a ticket to the final. Can they keep that "favorites" tag locked down and punch their ticket to the final?This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.