Dugout Discussion

France v Spain team news: Barcola in for Doue

14 July 2026 250 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

100 matches down, four to go: it’s World Cup semi-final time as France meet Spain.

Kick-off in Dallas is at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Les Bleus make two changes from the 2-0 win over Morocco in the quarter-finals.

One is expected as Aurélien Tchouaméni ($6.5m) returns from injury to replace Manu Koné ($6.1m) in the engine room.

The other alteration is more of a surprise – or at least, it was until the news broke on social media earlier this afternoon. Bradley Barcola ($8.0m) comes in for Desire Doué ($7.5m) on the wing.

As for Spain, Luis de la Fuente has named the same side that started Friday’s quarter-final win over Belgium.

Mikel Merino ($6.2m), the match-winner in each of the past two rounds, has to settle for substitute duty once again.

Pedri ($8.1m) is once more kept out of the side by Fabian Ruiz ($6.8m).

Now that we’ve seen the line-ups, we know that only four starters qualify for Scouting Bonus. Unsurprisingly, they are the four central midfielders: Ruiz, Rodri ($7.5m), Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot ($6.4m).

LINE-UPS

France XI: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Mbappe.

Subs: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Kone, Thuram, Kante, Konate, Zaire-Emery, Theo Hernandez, Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Mateta, Cherki, Akliouche, Lacroix.

Spain XI: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal.

Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Gonzalez, Munoz, Iglesias.

PRE-DEADLINE READS

250 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    France playing without much confidence. Need a moment of magic.. or a soft penalty too

    Open Controls
    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      A refresher on the offside law would be a start..

      Open Controls
      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        lol…

        Open Controls
    2. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      The attacking players should start throwing themselves at the defenders feet while they're trying to clear the ball.

      Open Controls
      1. Feanor
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Still crying when Digne missed the ball by yards lol

        Open Controls
  2. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    VAR overrules free kicks now?

    Open Controls
  3. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Wait, VAR can overturn freekicks now as well? What we doing here

    Open Controls
    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Must be new rule!

      Open Controls
  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    French losing their minds a bit… Rabiot could’ve picked up a second yellow there

    Open Controls
  5. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Every 30 seconds there is a foul

    Open Controls
  6. EmreCan Hustle
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Need to bring on Dembele in the second half.

    Open Controls
    1. Mozumbus
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Lol

      Open Controls
    2. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Tchouameni needs to at least try more forward passes if he has no license to press higher up.

      Open Controls
      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Yeah, if they bring Kone in for Rabiot, Tchouameni will get that freedom.

        Open Controls
        1. Mozumbus
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          True
          Why didn't he start

          Open Controls
  7. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Would be quite funny if france vs Argentina would be the 3rd place playoff..

    Open Controls
    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Wouldn't mind it at all.

      Open Controls
    2. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      I’d love it. LOVE IT!

      Open Controls
  8. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Pen was the only first half shot on target

    Open Controls
    1. Steavn8k
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      It all feels quite dull doesn't it?

      Open Controls
  9. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Why do they go back to the commentators, just so they can say they’ll be back with the second half shortly, then return to the adverts?

    Open Controls
  10. Steavn8k
    • 3 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Am I just getting old and tired, or does this match feel more like a summer fun time game in the us, than a world cup semi?

    Open Controls
    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Rodri doing Rodri things, certainly hasn’t been anywhere near the classic we’d hoped for…Doue coming on

      Open Controls
  11. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Porroooo

    Open Controls
  12. Bobby Digital
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Got this one completely wrong... Thought France would win this rather easily.

    Open Controls
    1. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Easy for either of these games would have been a bold call.

      Open Controls
    2. Winging it
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Based on what though? Spain have beaten France in their previous two meetings, they know how to play them.

      Open Controls
  13. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    That could be that…Porro 2-0

    Open Controls
  14. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Wow. Spain thru to final. Cant see france comeback now

    Open Controls
  15. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    COYS!

    Open Controls
    1. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      S for Spain here

      Open Controls
  16. The Mandalorian
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    The French starting 11 is made up of 10 players from African descent, yet everyone sings the national anthem with pride.

    Now compare the England players who refuse to sing their anthem or quietly mumble the words.

    It just shows the difference in unity between the two nations.

    Open Controls
    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      What total crap.

      Open Controls
    2. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Absolute tosh....are you French?....your teams taking a he'll of a beating

      Open Controls
    3. Winging it
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Yet another person waffling about the French national team being African, give it rest for goodness sake. Just a ridiculous comment all round this.

      Open Controls
    4. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      I didnt see spain players singing either..

      Open Controls
  17. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    2-0 Spain

    Porro goal, Olmo assist

    Open Controls
  18. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Welp that's, most likely, that. Hopefully England does the business tomorrow.

    Open Controls
  19. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Nearly 3-0, France currently collapsing…

    Open Controls
  20. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Tactics and teamplay have been outdoing the attacking star power so far. Still time for those stars to shine.

    Open Controls
  21. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Rodri has bossed this one…

    Open Controls
    1. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Indeed

      Open Controls
  22. EmreCan Hustle
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Digne is clearly the weak link.

    Open Controls
    1. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Come on, don't make him the scapegoat, Spain have been better in nearly every position.

      Open Controls
  23. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Is this the same Pedro Porro that plays for Spurs or his brother?

    Open Controls
    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      He and cucurella are beasts for spain but ordinary for club

      Open Controls
  24. SM001
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    I only just noticed Doue is on the pitch. He's been on nearly 10 mins.

    Open Controls
    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Have noticed Dembele in the pitch?

      Open Controls
      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        *on

        Open Controls
  25. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Digne is so poor. Is he frances best left back?

    Open Controls
    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Lucas Hernandez and theo Hernandez the only other options really

      Open Controls
    2. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Think they started with Theo as first choice then switched to Digne

      Open Controls
      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Well now digne off, theo in

        Open Controls
  26. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Ruiz has actually been immense. Making Tchouameni look mediocre

    Open Controls
  27. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    I played maximum captain and my gk simon on 14 pts is doubled. Lol. Last person i thought

    Open Controls
  28. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Oyarzabal almost as underrated as Giroud was for France.

    Open Controls
  29. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    The depth on these benches is hilarious…

    Open Controls
    1. Steavn8k
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      B teams of both nations are better than most teams this tournament.

      Open Controls
  30. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Merino on. We know what happens next

    Open Controls
    1. Steavn8k
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Well do we, now that they don't need a goal? Might end up reverse effecting.

      Open Controls

You need to be logged in to post a comment.