France and Morocco are set to clash in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals on July 9 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and both coaches have thrown curveballs with their starting lineups.
Didier Deschamps has benched PSG forward Bradley Barcola in favor of his clubmate Désiré Doué, while Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi is deploying Brahim Díaz as a lone striker after losing key forward Ismael Saibari to injury.
The tactical chess match
Deschamps’ decision to start Doué over Barcola stems from the younger midfielder’s impact as a substitute during France’s Round of 16 victory over Paraguay. Doué helped shift the dynamics of that match after coming off the bench, earning himself a promotion to the starting XI for the biggest game of the tournament so far.
On Morocco’s side, the absence of Saibari due to injury has forced Ouahbi to restructure his attack. Brahim Díaz, typically deployed in a deeper creative role, steps up as the lone striker. Anass Salah Eddine and Chemsdine Talbi have been introduced into the lineup to compensate for the lost firepower.
