Paraguay vs France Live: Team News; Koné starts for injured Tchouaméni and Paraguay match Germany tactics
The official team sheets are in here at Philadelphia, and both managers have made critical tactical tweaks for this massive knockout encounter!
France Lineup (4-2-3-1): Didier Deschamps has been forced into one major alteration in his engine room. Manu Koné rotates into the starting XI to replace midfield anchor Aurélien Tchouaméni, who unfortunately picked up a late injury in training. Otherwise, it is the familiar, terrifyingly potent French ‘Fantastic Four’ leading the line.
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
Forward: Kylian Mbappé
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 has reverted to a defensive five-man backline, shifting away from the 4-4-2 shape that shocked Germany. Omar Alderete returns to act as the third central defender, leaving no room for Damián Bobadilla in the middle. Diego Gómez returns from suspension at right midfield, pushing Newcastle’s Miguel Almirón further up front into a dual-striker role alongside Julio Enciso, 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
