Deschamps set to make three changes as Barcola earns World Cup start

Didier Deschamps is prepared to make three personnel changes to France's starting line-up, handing Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola his first World Cup start after Desire Doue struggled in the first half against Senegal.

Les Bleus opened the group with a 3-1 victory in Philadelphia, powered by a brace from captain Kylian Mbappe, but the attack was sluggish early on, producing just one first-half shot — the side's lowest in a World Cup group stage since 1966.

To sharpen the frontline, the management plans to deploy Olise as a central number ten while moving Ousmane Dembele to the right, bring Lucas Digne in at left-back for Theo Hernandez and introduce Manu Kone to partner Adrien Rabiot in midfield.

France head into the game on a 14-match scoring run dating back to March 2025, and a second straight win would put them on course for early progression to the round of 32 as they prepare to face an Iraq side coming off a 4-1 defeat to Norway and a three-match winless run.

France, Philadelphia

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