Roma midfielder Manu Koné is poised to return to the substitutes’ bench as France prepare for their World Cup semi-final against Spain on Tuesday evening. The 22-year-old had deputised admirably for the injured Aurélien Tchouaméni during the knockout stages, but the Real Madrid star’s recovery appears set to restore him to Didier Deschamps’ starting eleven.
According to L’Équipe, Tchouaméni has fully recovered from the muscular issues that forced his withdrawal earlier in the tournament. The French medical staff are prepared to risk him from the start in the high-stakes encounter, despite Koné having started four of France’s six matches in the competition.
Koné’s potential omission comes despite high praise from former Genoa coach Patrick Vieira, who described the Roma player as “the best midfielder currently in the France squad”. The midfielder featured from the outset against Iraq, Norway, Paraguay and Morocco, but was restricted to the bench for the victories over Senegal and Sweden during the group phase.
Confirmed selections and final decisions
While Koné faces disappointment, several positions are already settled. AC Milan pair Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot are guaranteed starts, as is the attacking trident of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé. Deschamps considers this trio “untouchable” for the semi-final.
The France manager still faces one significant selection headache. He must choose between Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola for the remaining attacking berth, with reports suggesting the remainder of the eleven will mirror the side that defeated Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Semi-final stakes
The winner of Tuesday’s encounter will advance to the final, where they will meet either Argentina or England. France are seeking to maintain their momentum after navigating a challenging quarter-final against Morocco, though the tactical adjustment of reintegrating Tchouaméni at Koné’s expense presents Deschamps with a selection dilemma.