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France, having already secured their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, are expected to make five adjustments to the team that defeated Iraq 3-0 earlier this week, according to a report from L’Équipe.

The report indicates that Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was left out against Iraq in favour of Manu Koné, will return to the starting lineup. Adrien Rabiot is likely to be the player making way for him.

William Saliba, who has revealed that he has been managing a back problem for several months, is set to be rested. In his place, Crystal Palace defender and Chelsea target Maxence Lacroix is expected to start alongside Dayot Upamecano in central defence.

On the right side of defence, Jules Koundé could be replaced by Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, while a possible change on the left flank may see Théo Hernandez return to the lineup in place of Lucas Digne, though that decision remains less certain.

In attack, Ousmane Dembélé may be given a rest, allowing Désiré Doué to come in. Additionally, Doué is also expected to replace Bradley Barcola in the forward setup as France look to rotate their squad ahead of the knockout stage.

These changes suggest that coach Didier Deschamps is looking to manage player fitness and reduce the risk of injuries, while still maintaining competitive balance as France prepare for their final group-stage match against Norway.