France start with Doue instead of Barcola, Diaz to operate as lone striker for Morocco

09 Jul 2026, 19:02 · CNA · Join

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S. - July 9, 2026 France's Desire Doue arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Mike Segar

Jul 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; France midfielder Desire Doue (20) and Paraguay forward Gustavo Caballero (24) in action during a Round of 16 match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Philadelphia Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Jun 30, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Bradley Barcola (12) in action against Sweden during a Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Netherlands v Morocco - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 29, 2026 Netherlands' Nathan Ake in action with Morocco's Brahim Diaz REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

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FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts, July 9 : France will start with attacking midfielder Desire Doue as coach Didier Deschamps opted to leave Bradley Barcola on the bench, in a tactical change for the 2018 world champions in their World Cup quarter-final against Morocco on Thursday.

• In a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, apart from Barcola, the France starting 11 is unchanged from their 1-0 win over Paraguay in the round of 16, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele spearheading the attack, backed by Michael Olise.

• Morocco are without key forward Ismael Saibari, who was injured in their last match.

• Coach Mohamed Ouahbi brings in defender Anass Salah Eddine and midfielder Chemsdine Talbi, with Brahim Diaz playing as a lone forward.

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• The winners meet Spain or Belgium in the last four.

Lineups:

France - Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue; Kylian Mbappe (captain)

Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah Eddine; Neil El Aynaoui, Chemsdine Talbi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Brahim Diaz;

France start with Doue instead of Barcola, Diaz to operate as lone striker for Morocco

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