​Manu Koné of Roma could be benched in favor of Aurelien Tchouameni for France’s World Cup semi-final against Spain, even as Milan’s Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot are set to start. The eagerly anticipated clash is scheduled for Tuesday evening, with the winner securing a place in the Final to face either Argentina or England. According to L’Equipe, Real Madrid midfielder Tchouameni has fully recovered from muscular issues and is likely to be risked from the beginning.
In recent weeks, Koné had made a strong impression after stepping into the midfield role, with former Genoa coach Patrick Vieira even suggesting that the Roma man is currently among the best midfielders in the France squad. Nonetheless, Bleus insiders indicate that Deschamps could opt to deploy Tchouameni from the start in this high-stakes fixture, pushing Koné back to a bench role.
There have been mixed signals around the French midfield selection. Reports from New Jersey and the surrounding area showed Koné on the bench for some earlier matches against Senegal and Sweden, while he started in others, including games versus Iraq, Norway, Paraguay, and Morocco. The dynamic in the French engine room remains a talking point, especially as Deschamps weighs his options ahead of the semi-final.
Despite potential midfield shuffles, there will be a continuing Serie A presence in France’s lineup through Maignan and Rabiot, who have been integral figures for their country throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, the trio of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé remain the untouchables in the frontline, forming a backbone that Deschamps appears reluctant to disrupt.
Another major decision for the French coach comes in midfield: the choice between Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola. This pair represents a significant tactical option for Deschamps, as he considers how to balance creativity, ball retention, and defensive solidity against Spain’s dynamic midfield setup. Aside from these personnel considerations, the rest of the XI is widely expected to mirror the lineup that defeated Morocco in the quarter-finals, maintaining continuity and momentum.
As the semi-final match looms, fans and pundits will be watching closely to see whether France sticks with the established core or embraces a refreshed approach by sentencing Koné to the bench in favor of Tchouameni. The stakes could not be higher, with a place in the World Cup Final on the line and a potential showdown against a formidable opponent in Argentina or England awaiting the victors.