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Barcola starts, Doué on the bench: Deschamps makes three changes against Iraq

Didier Deschamps makes three changes for France's second match at the 2026 World Cup against Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia. Barcola, Koné and Digne enter the starting lineup in place of Doué, Tchouaméni and Théo Hernandez.

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Barcola starts, Doué on the bench: Deschamps makes three changes against Iraq
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Didier Deschamps has unveiled his starting XI for France-Iraq, the Blues’ second match in the 2026 World Cup, on Monday evening at Lumen Field Stadium in Philadelphia. Three changes from the opening victory against Senegal (3-1).

Bradley Barcola, who made a convincing substitute appearance against the Lions of Teranga, takes the place of Désiré Doué on the left flank of the attack. In midfield, Manu Koné and Lucas Digne are preferred to Aurélien Tchouaméni and Théo Hernandez.

Ousmane Dembélé and Mike Maignan, both below their standards in the first match, are retained. Dembélé is however repositioned on the right flank, leaving Michael Olise the role of playmaker in the center.

The Blues’ starting XI: Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne – Koné, Rabiot – Dembélé, Olise, Barcola – Mbappé.

Substitutes: Risser, Samba, T. Hernandez, Gusto, L. Hernandez, Konaté, Lacroix, Kanté, Tchouaméni, Zaïre-Emery, Akliouche, Cherki, Doué, Mateta, Thuram.

Kickoff scheduled for 23:00 (French time), provided that the storms currently hitting the eastern United States spare Philadelphia.

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