On the eve of a titanic clash against La Roja this Tuesday in Dallas (9 p.m.), Les Bleus’ staff are fine-tuning the final details of their starting lineup. While the backbone of the team seems set, two major uncertainties remain in the coach’s mind.
This semi-final will have a special flavor for Paris Saint-Germain, with six of their players set to take the field at the Dallas Stadium. While Fabian Ruiz will be the only Parisian representative on the Spanish side, the red-and-blue contingent will be strongly represented for France with Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé.
Key selection dilemmas in attack and midfield
The attacking setup is drawing most of the attention. Behind Kylian Mbappé, expected to lead the line alongside Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé, the left wing spot remains undecided. Two Paris-trained talents are battling for the role: Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola. More than a simple rivalry, the choice is highly strategic. The staff must decide between Barcola’s directness and pace or Doué’s composure and creativity, depending on the game plan against Spain’s structure.
The other major question mark lies in midfield, alongside Adrien Rabiot. Once an undisputed starter at the beginning of the World Cup, Aurélien Tchouaméni now sees his position under threat due to his return from injury and, more importantly, the rise of Manu Koné. The latter has delivered a series of top performances, shaking up the hierarchy. While Tchouaméni’s experience could prove decisive for such a high-stakes match, current form strongly favors Koné.
The probable lineup for France: Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne – Tchouaméni (or Koné), Rabiot – Dembélé, Olise, Doué (or Barcola) – Mbappé. For the rest, the defensive line should hold no surprises. As usual, Didier Deschamps will keep everyone guessing until the very end, with official lineups revealed about 90 minutes before kickoff on Tuesday night.
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