Paraguay vs France Live: Team News; Koné starts in place of the injured Tchouaméni, and Paraguay matches the German tactics
The official team sheets are here in Philadelphia, and both managers have made critical tactical changes for this big knockout!
France line-up (4-2-3-1): Didier Deschamps was forced to make one big change in his engine room. Manu Koné rotates into the starting XI to replace midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who unfortunately picked up an injury late in training. By the way, it’s the famous, terrifyingly powerful French ‘Fantastic Four’ leading the way.
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
Defenders: Lucas Digne, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé
Defensive midfielders: Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot
Attacking midfielders: Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé
Striker: Kylian Mbappe
French substitutes: Robin Risser, Brice Samba, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernández, Théo Hernández, Ibrahima Konaté, Maxence Lacroix, N’Golo Kanté, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram
Paraguay lineup (5-3-2): Gustavo Alfaro returned to a back five, moving away from the 4-4-2 formation that shocked Germany. Omar Alderete returns to the third central defender position, leaving no room for Damián Bobadilla in the middle. Diego Gómez returns from suspension in right midfield, pushing Newcastle’s Miguel Almirón further forward into a dual striker role alongside Julio Encis, while Gabriel Ávalos drops to the bench.
Goalkeeper: Orlando Gill
Defenders: Júnior Alonso, Omar Alderete, Gustavo Gómez, Gustavo Velázquez, Blas Cáceres
Midfielders: Matías Galarza, Andrés Cubas, Diego Gómez
Forwards: Julio Enciso, Miguel Almirón
Paraguayan substitutes: Carlos Miguel Coronel, Gastón Olveira, Fabián Balbuena, José Canale, Cristian Maidana, Damián Bobadilla, Braian Ojeda, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Maurício, Ramón Sosa, Álex Arce, Antonio Sanabria, Gabriel Ávalos, Isidro Pitta, Mauro Caballero
