Aurélien Tchouaméni Trains France, Unlikely to Start vs Morocco

Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to France training on 9 July 2026 yet is set to sit out the quarter-final versus Morocco, with coach Didier Deschamps likely to leave him on the bench.

What happened?

The Real Madrid midfielder arrived at the training venue in Boston, Massachusetts, after missing the last-16 win over Paraguay with an adductor injury. He participated in a full-sided drill alongside teammates, marking his first on-field activity since the setback, according to L’Équipe.

Why is he doubtful to start?

Medical staff, including fitness coach Cyril Moine, have monitored his recovery closely. While he made the match-day squad, the French side prefers to protect him for the remainder of the tournament. Manu Koné and Adrien Rabiot are slated to occupy the midfield slots against Morocco, limiting any chance for Tchouaméni to feature.

What does this mean for France?

France enters the quarter-final with a 2-0 win over Paraguay, but the midfield will miss Tchouaméni’s defensive coverage. His absence forces Deschamps to rely on Koné’s youthful energy and Rabiot’s experience. Should the injury linger, France may need to adjust tactics for the semi-final, especially against teams that exploit space in the middle.

The French federation confirmed that Tchouaméni will be listed on the official teamsheet, yet his participation remains unlikely. Fans will watch closely for any late-minute change, but the prevailing view is that the midfielder will continue his rehabilitation after the Morocco clash.