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Doué Steps In for Barcola as France Face Morocco in World Cup Quarter-Final

France have made an attacking change ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash with Morocco, with Ousmane Doué selected to start in place of Eduardo Barcola.

9 Jul 2026 · via skysports.com

Preview & stats: France v Morocco →

The France lineup adjustment sees Doué enter the fray for what is a significant knockout tie in the tournament, according to Sky Sports. The swap represents a shift in tactical approach for Didier Deschamps' side as they look to navigate past a stubborn Morocco outfit in the last eight.

Barcola's absence from the starting XI marks a notable change from France's earlier matches, though no injury details were confirmed in the available reports. Doué's inclusion signals confidence from the coaching staff in his ability to perform at this level of competition.

Morocco have proven to be a difficult opponent throughout the tournament and will offer a stern test for Les Bleus in this quarter-final encounter. The change in France's attacking setup may indicate Deschamps is seeking to exploit particular weaknesses or adapt to Morocco's defensive shape.

Both teams arrive at this fixture with significant tournament experience, and every starting decision carries weight in a do-or-die knockout format.

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