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France head coach Didier Deschamps has addressed fitness concerns surrounding captain Kylian Mbappe, who was substituted late in the match during Les Bleus’ World Cup quarter-final triumph over Morocco. The Real Madrid star was taken off after suffering a knock to his ankle, with the coaching team choosing to manage his workload carefully ahead of the semi-finals.

France book their semi-final spot

France advanced to the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win against Morocco in Boston. Deschamps’ men endured early frustration when Yassine Bounou saved Mbappe’s penalty in the first half. However, the forward redeemed himself by opening the scoring in the 60th minute before Ousmane Dembele added a second. Mbappe was withdrawn in the 77th minute, visibly nursing his right ankle, which was wrapped in ice, sparking concern among fans and staff alike.

Deschamps clarifies substitution decisions

Following the game, Deschamps offered a detailed update on his captain’s physical condition and explained his tactical reasoning for the late changes. The manager confirmed that Mbappe was experiencing a slight ankle issue but praised the substitutes for stepping up effectively when called upon.

Speaking to M6, the 2018 World Cup-winning coach said: “Kylian had a slight ankle problem; he was feeling some discomfort. Manu [Kone] took a knock on the knee and had some cramps. But Warren [Zaire-Emery] made a very, very good impact when he came on, which is great. Everyone must stay ready. Even those not playing are fully backing the rest of the squad.”

When asked about France’s third consecutive semi-final appearance, Deschamps remarked: “Reaching three semi-finals in a row is already a great achievement, but it feels natural given the quality of players we have. It was a tough game today. Missing the penalty and other chances made it tricky. Kylian responded well and scored. We are exactly where we aimed to be. Now we’ll focus on recovery and watch our next opponents [Spain or Belgium] on Friday.”

Emotional achievement for Deschamps and France

The French manager reflected on the significance of reaching the final four for a third successive tournament, describing it as an emotional milestone for both the team and supporters. He highlighted the importance of maintaining unity and focus as they move closer to their ultimate goal.

Deschamps added: “That’s the beauty of sport and football — we create emotions and share them. I can imagine the excitement back home in France, even though we’re in our own bubble here. The players have a responsibility to go as far as possible. This is a key step, and we’re back in the final four once again.”

France prepare for semi-final challenge

Les Bleus now shift focus to Tuesday’s semi-final in Dallas, where they will face the winner of the Spain versus Belgium clash. Mbappe’s injury scare appears to be minor, as he was later seen celebrating enthusiastically after France’s sixth consecutive victory in the competition. With 16 goals so far, France remain the tournament’s highest-scoring team and the top contenders to lift the World Cup trophy.