Désiré Doué could ultimately begin the 2026 World Cup on the bench. According to L’Équipe, the PSG attacking midfielder’s performance against Northern Ireland did not fully convince Didier Deschamps.
Doué appears to be losing ground, with Bradley Barcola now emerging as the favorite to start against Senegal. As France’s opening match approaches, the national team coach is reportedly weighing up the choice between the two PSG teammates for the left side of the attack.
Barcola Gains the Edge for Senegal Clash
One of the main differences between the two players lies in their playing styles. While Barcola constantly makes runs behind defenses and attacks open spaces, Doué often drops deeper to receive the ball at his feet, similar to Michael Olise or Ousmane Dembélé.
This tactical distinction could play a major role in Deschamps’ final decision. With several players already comfortable operating between the lines, the France manager may favor Barcola’s pace and directness to add more variety and verticality to the team’s attacking play. The former Lyon winger currently appears to have a slight advantage in the race for a starting spot.
Meanwhile, Deschamps also has concerns regarding Adrien Rabiot and William Saliba. Although both players arrived in Boston with the rest of the squad, they did not take part in Thursday’s collective training session and instead followed an individualized program with fitness coach Cyril Moine. However, according to L’Équipe, there is no concern within the camp, as both players are simply adapting to the American climate and are expected to be available for France’s opening World Cup match.
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