Set to face Morocco in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, Aurelien Tchouameni is one of the main absences in France’s starting lineup. France faces Morocco on Thursday, July 10th, at Boston Stadium in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, with a place in the final four on the line. One of the main talking points ahead of kickoff is why Aurélien Tchouameni will not be starting for Les Bleus.
Tchouameni has been left out of the starting XI due to a tactical decision by head coach Didier Deschamps. With Morocco’s defensive block presenting a specific challenge, Deschamps has opted for a more technical and creative midfield profile, dropping the Real Madrid midfielder in favor of a different approach.
In his place, Manu Kone will partner Adrien Rabiot in France’s double pivot. The AS Roma midfielder featured in both the group stage win over Iraq and the Round of 16 victory over Paraguay, and with Deschamps sticking to a similar tactical setup, Koné gets the nod once again for this quarterfinal.
*Developing story…