France face England in a crucial 2026 World Cup third-place match looking for the bronze, where Jules Kounde will begin the match on the bench. Jules Kounde won’t be part of France’s starting lineup for today’s third-place match against England at Miami Stadium, with Malo Gusto taking over at right-back instead.
It’s the latest change in a reshuffled back line for manager Didier Deschamps, who has also brought in Maxence Lacroix and Ibrahima Konate at center-back in place of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba, leaving the defense looking noticeably different from the one that carried France through the tournament.
With no trophy left to play for after Tuesday’s semifinal defeat to Spain, Deschamps has treated the match as a chance to spread minutes around the squad rather than lean on his usual starters.
*Developing story