Why is Desire Doue benched for France vs Spain in FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Desire Doue has been named among the substitutes in the France vs Spain clash tonight.
France are taking on Spain in a FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 14. Les Bleus have been the standout team in the expanded 48-team edition in North America, but will face a stern test from the European champions.
Accordingly, head coach Didier Deschamps has named a strong starting lineup to face La Roja. However, a few big names have been dropped to the bench, including the mercurial winger Desire Doue.
In his place, Paris Saint-Germain teammate Bradley Barcola starts on the left wing. He is joined by Ousmane Dembele on the right and Michael Olise through the middle, with Kylian Mbappe starting as the team’s lone centre-forward.
Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni start in midfield ahead of the centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano. Lucas Digne and Jules Kounde are the full-backs, with Mike Maignan starting between the sticks.
Also Read: France starting lineup vs Spain confirmed
Why is Desire Doue not starting tonight?
Both Doue and Barcola have been used alternatively on the flanks by Deschamps in the tournament. Doue started the quarter-final clash against Morocco, registering an assist in that game. He also has a goal in the game against Norway.
However, Deschamps has opted for Barcola, who has two goals to his name in the tournament against Senegal and Sweden. His superior end product and dribbling will be an asset for Les Bleus when facing Pedro Porro, who has been in sublime form for La Roja.
Barcola is one of the best dribblers in European football and is superb in one-on-one situations, which will come into play if Spain digs deep against the in-form French attackers.
Why is Desire Doue benched for France vs Spain?
Head coach Didier Deschamps opted for Bradley Barcola on the left wing instead of Doue. Barcola’s two goals and stronger dribbling ability were likely seen as more effective against Spain’s Pedro Porro.
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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.