France face Morocco in the first quarter-final tie at World Cup 2026 on Thursday, with Aurelien Tchouameni pushing to be involved.
The Real Madrid midfielder suffered a groin injury in training following the round-of-32 win over Sweden and ended up missing last week’s 1-0 last-16 defeat of Paraguay.
Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps turned back to Roma’s Manu Kone as a partner in the pivot for Adrien Rabiot for a tense and feisty victory in Philadelphia secured by Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty.
France have been hoping to get vice-captain Tchouameni - who is poised to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu - back for a quarter-final meeting with Morocco in Boston, with suggestions that he could resume training on the eve of the game.
“I don’t have all the information yet,” Deschamps said when asked about the player’s fitness on Wednesday.
“Aurelien is better, but I left early this morning. He’s the only one who needs to be seen, but he’s doing better. He might participate in the training session today. All other players are available.”
If Tchouameni is unable to start against Morocco, then Kone and Rabiot look set to continue as the midfield pairing for favourites France.
Deschamps seems likely to stick with the same side that began the gritty win over Paraguay, with Mike Maignan continuing in goal.
Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba are all stalwarts in defence, with Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise certain to start in attack alongside Mbappe.
The only positions that have changed for France during this World Cup other than midfield are left-back and left wing, where Lucas Digne and Bradley Barcola appeared to have cemented themselves ahead of Theo Hernandez and Desire Doue.
However, reports on Wednesday claimed that Doue was set to replace Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Barcola against Morocco.
France have failed in their attempts to get Olise’s yellow card against Paraguay rescinded, meaning he will miss the semi-finals if he picks up another and Les Bleus progress.
The same is also true of Kone and Barcola, with cautions not wiped for the second time at this expanded tournament until after the quarter-finals.
Predicted France XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
Doubt: Tchouameni
Time and date: 9pm BST on Thursday July 9, 2026
Venue: Boston Stadium
How to watch: ITV1
