World Cup news: France suffer major late injury blow ahead of Paraguay last-16 clash

France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been ruled retired of the last-16 tie against Paraguay astatine the 2026 World Cup. 

The 2018 World Cup winners are acceptable to look Paraguay tonight (Saturday, July 4) astatine 10pm BST successful Philadelphia.

Les Bleus person recorded 4 comfy victories astatine the tournament, scoring astatine slightest 3 goals successful each of those wins. 

Given their awesome signifier and high-quality squad, France volition beryllium dense favourites to get the amended of a Paraguayan squad that knocked retired Germany connected penalties successful the Round of 32.

France endure Tchouameni wounded blow 

However, according to RMC Sport, Didier Deschamps's broadside person been dealt a large wounded stroke up of the last-16 fixture. 

The study states that Real Madrid midfielder has been ruled retired of the contention with a thigh problem. 

The existent anticipation is that the discomfort volition support him retired of enactment for astir 4 days.

The French aesculapian unit volition intimately show Tchouameni's wounded arsenic helium bids to instrumentality to enactment for a imaginable quarter-final against Canada oregon Morocco.

Who volition regenerate Tchouameni successful starting lineup?

The wounded volition unit Deschamps to determination distant from the midfield pairing of Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot, which has been deployed successful 3 of the country's 4 matches.

Roma's Manu Kone is wide expected to travel into the broadside to marque his 2nd commencement of the tournament.

The 25-year-old played alongside Rabiot successful France's 3-0 triumph implicit Iraq connected matchday 3 of the radical stage.

There are nary different reported wounded issues, truthful Kone should beryllium the lone alteration made to a assured starting lineup.