Aurélien Tchouaméni will miss France’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Paraguay in Philadelphia because of a groin-related injury. Manu Koné is expected to come into midfield next to Adrien Rabiot.
The setback followed discomfort during Friday training, and ESPN reports that scans showed a tear in the groin area. The issue is described as not severe, but it is expected to keep France’s vice-captain out of the Paraguay game and may also affect his availability for a potential quarterfinal.
For Didier Deschamps, the absence removes one of France’s key midfield anchors at a decisive stage of the tournament. Koné and Rabiot have already played together in the group stage, offering France at least one recent reference point for how the reshaped midfield could function.
If France advance, they would face either Canada or Morocco in Boston the following Thursday. The wider route could later bring a semifinal against Portugal, Spain, the United States or Belgium, making Tchouaméni’s recovery timeline an important storyline beyond the Paraguay match.
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