Why is Aurelien Tchouameni benched for France vs Morocco in FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Aurelien Tchouameni was named among the substitutes for the France vs Morocco match tonight.
France face Morocco in a standout FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 9. Les Bleus, who have won all of their games in the expanded 48-team tournament in North America, are one of the title favourites, but will need to be at their best to overcome the in-form Atlas Lions.
Head coach Didier Deschamps named the strongest possible starting lineup for tonight’s match. However, a few big names were missing or dropped to the bench, including vice-captain Aurelien Tchouameni.
The Real Madrid midfielder started Les Bleus’ tournament opener against Senegal, playing the full 90 minutes. He also played against Sweden and Norway, registering an assist against the latter.
However, for tonight’s match, Deschamps opted for a midfield pairing of Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot, with Michael Olise starting in an advanced role. Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele started on the flanks, with Kylian Mbappe being the lone striker.
Also Read: France starting lineup vs Morocco confirmed
Why is Aurelien Tchouameni on the bench?
According to media reports, the midfielder suffered a minor groin injury in training after the Round of 32 clash against Sweden. As a result, he did not play in the Round of 16 clash against Paraguay.
Les Bleus hoped that Tchouameni would be fit enough to train before the match against Morocco and eventually be able to start.
“I don’t have all the information yet,” Deschamps said in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “Aurelien is better, but I left early this morning. He’s the only one who needs to be seen, but he’s doing better. He might participate in the training session today. All other players are available.”
However, either Tchouameni did not pass the fitness check, or the French staff were playing it safe with their vice-captain, hoping to utilise him from the start in the upcoming games should the European giants progress.
Why is Aurelien Tchouameni benched vs Morocco?
He was benched due to a minor groin injury suffered in training after the Round of 32 clash vs Sweden.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.