Riolo tempers hype around Olise and Mbappé: "We haven't done anything yet"

Journalist Daniel Riolo has sharply criticized the media frenzy surrounding the Kylian Mbappé–Michael Olise partnership following France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The two forwards delivered a convincing performance in the match: Mbappé scored twice, while Olise provided two assists. France, unbeaten since the tournament began with three group-stage wins, advanced to the quarterfinals.

But for Riolo, the collective enthusiasm has gone too far. “The moment these two have a very good match, we enter a state of journalistic and national ecstasy. Because we’re in a World Cup and have to talk about it every day, people don’t know what else to say and start talking nonsense. We’re entering pure delirium,” he said.

The commentator was keen to put the French team’s progress into perspective. “They’re currently in the quarterfinals after playing Iraq, Sweden, Senegal, and Norway B. We haven’t played anyone, let the World Cup move forward. We haven’t done anything yet! Calm down! We were all impressed by what they did against Sweden, but it’s just Sweden,” he insisted.

Riolo also objected to the flattering comparisons being made to Olise, whose performances remain to be tested against top-tier opposition. “I really love Olise, but we’re already putting him in the same sentence as Platini or Zidane… Stop! Each thing in its time. Even Griezmann—he’s been in the trash for two days!” he concluded, pointing to the volatility of media judgments during World Cup periods.