Koné and El Aynaoui to face off in World Cup quarter-final as Roma connection returns after 28 years

France face Morocco in a World Cup quarter-final clash pitting an established, high-performing French side against a rising African representative. France will be led by Mbappé, operating in peak form despite external pressure, and supported by Olise, Barcolà and Dembelè in attack. Morocco's defensive line features Hakimi, Mazraoui, Diaz and AS Roma's Neil El Aynaoui. The Moroccan squad has impressed throughout the tournament and remains undefeated in their campaign. One uncertainty for Morocco centres on Saibari, who is recovering from an injury sustained in their previous match and may not be available for selection.

AS Roma will face Newport County, a fourth-division English club, in a pre-season friendly on 4 August at 19:00 at Rodney Parade stadium in Newport, Wales. The club has announced ticket details through an official statement, with seats priced at €17.50, with reductions available for under-18s and under-14s, and free admission for children under 6. Gates open at 17:00 at Gate 6, and tickets are available on the Newport County website. The match is part of Roma's pre-season preparation ahead of the 2026–27 campaign. The team will begin their summer training retreat at Trigoria on 13 July, then relocate to Hensol in Wales from 31 July onwards. The Newport County fixture is one of several friendlies scheduled during this preparation period in Wales, allowing Gasperini's squad to build match fitness before the competitive season begins.

AS Roma have officially confirmed a pre-season friendly against Newport County on 4 August at Rodney Parade stadium in Wales, with kickoff at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italy time). The match is managed by former Leicester manager Fuchs and represents Roma's second test in the United Kingdom during their summer schedule. Information for visiting supporters' tickets will be communicated in the coming days. The Newport County fixture slots into Roma's busy pre-season calendar as they prepare for the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina. The friendly comes after an earlier match against Cardiff on 1 August, followed by another game at Brighton on 8 August. After these English fixtures, Roma will face Borussia Dortmund on 15 August in their final warm-up before domestic competition resumes. These matches form part of the club's preparations under their summer training camp, with player fitness and tactical development a priority ahead of the new season.

Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui are expected to line up from the start when France faces Morocco in a World Cup quarter-final at 22:00 on Tuesday, with both Roma players having impressed throughout the tournament. Koné will anchor France's midfield in place of Tchouameni, who is recovering from a recent muscle injury and will likely begin on the bench. The Roma number 17 is relied upon by manager Deschamps in the role, with Rabiot also available in midfield. For Morocco, El Aynaoui has become a fixture in the team's setup, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation alongside Bouaddi under manager Ouahbi.

France face Morocco in a World Cup quarter-final clash pitting an established, high-performing French side against a rising African representative. France will be led by Mbappé, operating in peak form despite external pressure, and supported by Olise, Barcolà and Dembelè in attack. Morocco's defensive line features Hakimi, Mazraoui, Diaz and AS Roma's Neil El Aynaoui. The Moroccan squad has impressed throughout the tournament and remains undefeated in their campaign. One uncertainty for Morocco centres on Saibari, who is recovering from an injury sustained in their previous match and may not be available for selection.

Bryan Cristante has become an indispensable figure for Roma in the 2025–26 season, finally silencing years of criticism by leading the club's midfield as they qualified for the Champions League and won a European trophy. The midfielder made 37 appearances from 38, accumulating 3,103 minutes—more than any other outfield player at the club. Deployed frequently by Gasperini in a two-man midfield pairing with Koné, Pisilli, or El Aynaoui, Cristante also operated as a central attacking midfielder behind two strikers to cover offensive shortcomings, showcasing the professionalism Gasperini considers essential for future campaigns. Cristante's goal tally was modest: two goals across all competitions, both in Serie A. He opened his account in Roma's 2–1 victory at Fiorentina on 5 October 2025, then added another in the 3–0 home win over Cremonese on 22 February 2026. Critics had long blamed his extended playing time for Roma's failure to reach the Champions League in previous seasons, but this campaign vindicated his consistent contribution. Gasperini, like Mourinho, De Rossi, Ranieri before him, and Italy manager Mancini—with whom Cristante won the 2021 European Championship—has consistently recognised his value. Cristante averaged a season rating of 6.2, slightly above par. Standout performances earned him 7-point ratings in derbies against Lazio (0–1 and 2–0), wins over Fiorentina (1–2), Sassuolo (0–1), and Roma–Como (1–0, receiving 7.5). His poorest showings came in Inter–Roma (5–2) and Genoa–Roma, both scored 4, though the Inter collapse saw the entire squad struggle.