The French team wrapped up their preparations with a convincing 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in Lille, building momentum as they approach the 2026 World Cup. This match allowed coach Didier Deschamps to make several adjustments and validate some tactical options, while the team continues to get in shape ahead of the competition.
Beyond the result, this last outing before heading to the United States also served as a recovery day for the players. The coaching staff granted the group some downtime, allowing everyone a few hours of freedom after the match. This is standard practice in such preparations, aimed at promoting physical and mental recovery before an international trip.
In this context, several players took the opportunity to temporarily step away from the gathering. According to information confirmed by 90 Minutes, Kylian Mbappé left France right after the match. The forward reportedly took a flight to Madrid just hours after the final whistle. This trip is part of his personal management of rest time before rejoining the squad.
Meanwhile, Michael Olise also left the group to head to Munich. Like his teammate, this is a scheduled short absence, made possible by the lighter schedule between preparation matches and the official departure of the team.
These individual trips come as the French players have a brief window before returning to the Clairefontaine training center. The meeting is set for the next day at noon, when the entire group must be assembled to organize the journey to the United States, specifically to Boston, where preparations will continue in an international setting.
The French team staff closely manages these transition phases to maintain a balance between recovery and collective discipline. The allowed individual trips fit into a planned workload management, which is especially important as they approach a major competition like the World Cup.
It’s true. The two French forwards took a flight after the Blues’ match in Lille.
The meeting is set for tomorrow at noon in Clairefontaine for the departure to Boston.@90minFR https://t.co/bb12Gek67q
— Ilies Peeters (@IliesPeeters) June 9, 2026
On the sporting front, this victory against Northern Ireland confirms the positive momentum of the Blues, even if some areas for adjustment are noted by the coaching staff. The goal remains to stabilize the team’s chemistry and optimize connections between different playing sectors before the official matches.
The French squad must now shift into the final phase of preparation, marked by travel, adapting to the time zone, and final tactical adjustments. This period will be crucial to finalize the starting lineup and solidify playing principles before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
