France coach Didier Deschamps made one change to the team that beat Sweden 3-0 in the previous round, bringing Manu Kone into midfield in place of injured Aurelien Tchoumeni for Saturday’s World Cup last-16 clash against Paraguay.
Assistant coach Guy Steffen said Chouameni is out with a muscle problem.
“He has a slight muscle problem in the adductor area, although it is a somewhat wider area. He picked it up in training and will take treatment and a few days’ rest. Today (Saturday) it is difficult to say how long it will be, but we all hope it will not be for long,” said Steffen.
“Returning for the quarter-finals? It’s possible. But time is also against us, with a potential match in five days.”
Kone will be partnered with Adrien Rabiot at the back of France’s four-pronged attack.
Paraguay are in a possible 5-4-1 ultra-defensive formation.
The winners will face Morocco in Boston on July 9.
teams
paraguaya
Orlando Gil; Juan Jose Caceres, Gustavo Gomez (captain), Gustavo Velazquez, Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso; Miguel Almiron, Diego Gomez, Andres Cubas, Matias Galarza; Julio Enciso
France
Mike Magnan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kon, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe (captain)