​Aurelien Tchouameni was the major absentee for France in their last two knockout fixtures at the World Cup. Before the clash with Paraguay, the star midfielder had sustained an injury in training, which ruled him out of the Round of 16 tie, and he then missed the quarterfinal against Morocco as well. Manu Kone stepped in to deputize for the injured Tchouameni in the final two games, but as France gear up for a heavyweight clash with Spain, they have received a substantial boost. According to L’Equipe, Tchouameni is widely expected to line up for France in their semifinal against Spain this midweek, with the Real Madrid midfielder set to start ahead of Kone.
The report notes that Tchouameni has recovered from his knock and that his fitness levels are deemed satisfactory. Consequently, he should be in the starting XI against the Spaniards. While Kone performed admirably in his stead, Tchouameni’s presence is likely to edge him out of the lineup, given the Roma midfielder’s relatively smaller stature within the squad. Tchouameni’s importance to France’s balance makes his inclusion almost a certainty for the semifinal, and there is little doubt that he will start against Spain.
L’Equipe’s update indicates that the only midfield and attacking change for France will be Tchouameni’s return, with Didier Deschamps opting to keep an otherwise unchanged attack. This means that Deschamps is expected to retain Desire Doué in the starting eleven ahead of Bradley Barcola, while Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappe are all clear choices to start. The semifinal opportunity also gives Mbappe a chance to extend his scoring tally and potentially widen the gap on his rivals in the Golden Boot race, with Lionel Messi and Harry Kane trailing in the pursuit.
For Tchouameni, the semifinal presents a real chance to showcase his talents on the sport’s biggest stage, particularly against a well-drilled Spanish side. A strong performance could significantly boost his confidence heading into the final, while also giving Real Madrid a reason to smile, especially as they watch Jude Bellingham’s impressive World Cup form fuel interest and expectations surrounding him back at club level. With Tchouameni back in the fold, France have strengthened their midfield options for a crucial contest, and his return could prove pivotal in determining whether they advance to lift the trophy.