Koné benched as France falls to Spain in World Cup semi-final

France take on reigning European champions Spain in the World Cup semi-final at Dallas Stadium at 21:00 this evening. The clash will decide who advances to the tournament final. Manu Koné, the Roma midfielder, has featured in four of France's six matches at the World Cup under Deschamps, but could start from the bench tonight. The France boss is more likely to deploy Tchouameni in midfield alongside Rabiot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though no final decision has yet been confirmed. The match will be broadcast live on Rai 1, with streaming available on Rai Play and Dazn.

AS Roma has opened ticket sales for their opening summer friendly against Cannes, scheduled for 18:00 on 26 July at Stade Pierre de Coubertin. Away supporters can purchase tickets for the Ouest stand exclusively online through the official AS Cannes website at 15 euros per ticket. Tickets are available in both PDF and digital formats, with the latter downloadable to Apple or Android devices. Information regarding gate opening times, entry procedures, and security protocols will be communicated in the days leading up to the match. For assistance and further details, supporters can contact the host club at billetterie@ascannes.fr.

Manu Koné produced an outstanding performance as France defeated Morocco 2-0, showcasing the intensity and ball-winning prowess that have marked his tournament. Deployed in midfield as Tchouameni faced repeated fitness issues, Koné made his fourth World Cup start across six appearances, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Zaire-Emery. His display was characterised by relentless pressing and tactical discipline, recovering possession at crucial moments—including one key intervention early in the second half on a Brahim Diaz counter-attack that could have shifted the match's trajectory. Koné's statistics underlined his control of the middle ground: 35 completed passes from 38 attempts (92% accuracy), one key pass, six ball recoveries, four tackles won, and one shot attempted. His energetic contribution drew praise from supporters on social media. The Roma midfielder's combative style marks a departure from his domestic approach, where he typically operates with more restraint. Notably, his Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui also featured in the fixture. France now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.