Deschamps poised for major squad rotation ahead of Ivory Coast friendly
Didier Deschamps is expected to make up to ten changes to the starting lineup for Thursday’s match against Ivory Coast, with Ibrahima Konaté replacing the injured William Saliba.
France will host Ivory Coast in an international friendly at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Thursday, marking a significant step in Les Bleus’ preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Didier Deschamps is anticipated to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, utilising the fixture to manage player workload ahead of the tournament in the United States.
Arsenal defender William Saliba has been ruled out of the match due to back pain, though his participation in the World Cup remains unaffected. In his absence, Ibrahima Konaté is expected to start at centre-back alongside Dayot Upamecano. Konaté, now a free agent following his departure from Liverpool, brings experience to the defensive line after previously playing under Deschamps at RB Leipzig.
The midfield is tipped to feature Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot as the double pivot, providing stability for the attacking unit. Chelsea’s Malo Gusto and Al-Hilal’s Théo Hernandez are predicted to occupy the full-back positions, flanking the central defenders.
In the final third, Kylian Mbappé is set to lead the line, supported by a creative trio of Rayan Cherki operating as the No. 10, flanked by Michael Olise and Marcus Thuram. Reports indicate that Deschamps intends to make up to ten changes during the match, a strategy designed to distribute minutes across the squad.
Five Paris Saint-Germain players, who recently secured the Champions League title, arrived at the national team base on Tuesday and are expected to feature. The squad will conclude this training block with a second friendly against Northern Ireland in Lille on Monday.
