Two-time world champions France will continue their onward march towards a third title when they face a spirited Morocco side in the first quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Having strolled through the group stage with ease, Les Bleus faced a tough nut in the form of a defensive Paraguayan side. However, France managed to wade through that tide courtesy of a late penalty from Kylian Mbappe.
The French head coach, Didier Deschamps, who himself has been part of three finals as a player and coach, knows the nature and scale of the upcoming fixture. But there is zero reason to doubt those on his roster after an exceptional tournament to date, which has yielded five straight wins.
Deschamps Likely To Field Same XI?
France manager Didier Deschamps is unlikely to make changes to a side
that has impressed throughout the tournament.
Les Bleus booked their place in the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay, courtesy of a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappe.
Looking ahead to the showdown with Morocco, Mbappe admitted France is bracing for a fiercely contested encounter but said the squad is full of confidence after becoming the first French team to win its opening five matches at a FIFA World Cup.
With the entire squad fit and no fresh injury concerns, Deschamps is expected to retain the same starting lineup for the quarterfinal.
Olise's Yellow Card
One of the major talking points from the France vs Morocco match has been the yellow card of Michael Olise. Olise was handed a yellow card in the last match, and naturally, in the game against Morocco, the Bayern Munich forward will be walking on a thin rope, and there will be very little room for error for him. Olise is expected to remain in the starting lineup alongside Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, forming the attacking line behind Mbappe.
France Predicted XI Against Morocco
Deschamps is expected to retain the same players (even at the risk of Olise, who is already on a yellow card) in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Here is the predicted XI of France against Morocco-
Predicted XI: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe.
