PLAYER RATINGS | Norway 0 – 1 France: Michael Olise scores before sustaining hamstring injury

France took on Norway for their Under-21 European Championships second group stage game off the back of their narrow 2-1 victory against Italy.

France U21 manager Sylvain Ripoll shuffled his pack on Sunday night by changing seven players from his starting line-up against the Italians. Les Bleuets started on the back foot, making too many unforced errors and showing only glimpses of the bulk of talent at their disposal.

Although France kept their opponents mostly quiet, with Norway registering only one shot on target in a snore-fest of a first half, Les Bleuets were agonisingly ineffectual. France were without imagination, guile or resourcefulness to escape from Norway’s elementary pressing. Ripoll’s gamble to change more than half his team and not rely on stability appeared to backfire massively.

Still, the manager looked to have found the right words in the dressing room, with a different France side taking to the field in the second half as they pinned the Norwegians in their own half. Enzo Le Fée fed Amine Adli whose low cross found an unmarked Michael Olise to open the scoring. The Crystal Palace forward, unfortunately, had to limp off the pitch after suffering a hamstring injury minutes after finding the back of the net.

Ripoll rang the changes with Elye Wahi, Amine Gouiri, Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki entering the fray. The Lyon playmaker injected plenty of dynamism compared to what Le Fée previously offered. Les Bleuets squandered opportunities to put the game to bed with Kristoffer Klaesson handing a lifeline to his teammates. France suffered in the dying minutes but eventually got the job done. France will face Switzerland on Wednesday. A draw would be enough to win Group D.

France players ratings

Lucas Chevalier, 5

Yasser Larouci, 5

Castello Lukeba, 7 – An assured performance from the Lyon centre-back, displaying his aerial ability and passing quality with ease. No wonder RB Leipzig allegedly want to replace Joško Gvardiol with him. Took one for the team when Seedy Jatta knocked his face in trying an overhead kick and saved his side with a last-gasp goalline clearance.

Mohamed Simakan, 5 – Booked early on for a very avoidable handball offence, the Arsenal target was rarely tested by Norway’s modest attacking players.

Bafodé Diakité, 4

Joris Chotard, 4

Maxence Caqueret, 5

Enzo Le Fée, 4

Amine Adli, 5

Michael Olise 6 – The Crystal Palace man put in an anonymous performance in the first half. To his immense credit, he could hardly have found a better time to score his very first goal with Les Bleuets, coolly slamming home at the back post. France will wait for good news relating to his hamstring injury.

Arnaud Kalimuendo, 4

GFFN | Bastien Cheval