France head coach Didier Deschamps is considering making several alterations to his starting line-up ahead of their second World Cup group-stage match against Iraq, with up to three changes reportedly under discussion.
According to reports from RMC, the France manager is weighing adjustments across defence, midfield and attack as he looks to refine his team selection following their opening fixture of the tournament.
One of the key changes being considered involves Bradley Barcola, who is expected to start ahead of his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Désiré Doué. The move would mark a shift in the attacking setup as France prepare for a different tactical challenge against Iraq.
In defence, Lucas Digne is in line to come into the starting eleven, potentially replacing Théo Hernandez. Hernandez is said to have shown signs of fatigue towards the end of France’s previous match against Senegal, prompting consideration of a change at left-back.
The potential introduction of Digne would offer France a more rotated option in a position that requires both defensive stability and attacking support from deep areas.
Further adjustments are also being considered in midfield, where Manu Koné is strongly tipped to start. His inclusion would likely see Aurélien Tchouaméni given a rest after featuring in the opening match.
The midfield reshuffle is viewed as part of Deschamps’ wider approach to squad management during the tournament, as France balance maintaining performance levels with managing player workload across a congested schedule.
However, despite the strong indications of changes, Deschamps has not yet made any official confirmation regarding his starting line-up for the Iraq match.
The possible alterations come as France continue their World Cup campaign with expectations high following their opening performance. The squad depth available to Deschamps allows for rotation without a significant drop in quality, and the potential changes reflect the competitive nature of places within the team.
Barcola’s possible inclusion ahead of Doué highlights the internal competition for attacking roles, particularly among players from the same club environment, with both forwards representing Paris Saint-Germain at domestic level.
Similarly, the decision over whether to rest Tchouaméni in favour of Koné underlines the importance of maintaining balance and energy in midfield as the tournament progresses.
France’s coaching staff are expected to make a final decision closer to kick-off, with training sessions and player recovery likely to influence the final selection.
The match against Iraq represents another step in France’s group-stage campaign, and any changes made by Deschamps will be closely watched as supporters look for clues about the manager’s preferred structure for the remainder of the tournament.
For now, the possibility of rotation remains open, with up to three changes on the table as France prepare to take on Iraq in their second group fixture.
