Deschamps to miss Norway, Stéphan takes charge for group decider

Deschamps to miss Norway match, Stéphan takes over

Didier Deschamps will not be on the touchline Friday when France face Norway in the final Group I match. His mother passed away, and Guy Stéphan, his long-time assistant, steps in as interim coach (4). The team held a minute of silence at their World Cup base earlier this week (2).

Stéphan is no stranger to the setup. He has been at Deschamps' side since 2012, from Marseille through the 2018 World Cup win. He will lead the pre-match talk, manage substitutions, and handle in-game decisions before handing the reins back to Deschamps after the final whistle (4).

First place in the group is on the line. France are already into the round of 16, but Norway can still leapfrog them at the top. Stéphan's brief is simple: get the result, keep the squad fresh, and deliver the group to Deschamps.

Dembélé might sit, two options to replace him

Ousmane Dembélé could be rested against Norway. Two names are in the frame: Bradley Barcola and Kingsley Coman (1).

Barcola gives you pace and direct running behind the defence. Coman offers a different profile, more experience in knockout football, more craft from wide areas. Both are trusted options. The decision likely comes down to what Stéphan needs from the role on the day.

First place still up for grabs against Norway

France are through, but the job is not finished. Top spot in Group I requires a result against Norway, and changes are expected across every line, defence, midfield, and attack (5).

The probable lineup remains fluid, but rotation is coming. The priority is balancing freshness for the round of 16 with the need to win the group. Norway will not roll over.

Bouaddi, 18, shines at the World Cup, for Morocco

Ayyoub Bouaddi is one of the breakout stories of the tournament. The 18-year-old midfielder ran the game when Morocco drew 1–1 with Brazil in their Group C opener, and Liverpool and PSG both had eyes on him (3).

He was eligible for France. He chose Morocco. That decision looks sharper by the day.

Fan reactions

A fair bit of trivia floating around: Mexico just became only the fifth host nation ever to post a perfect group stage with nine points, joining Uruguay 1930, Italy 1990, France 1998, and Germany 2006. France could join them Friday. Some fans are also pointing out that Mbappé's national team output far outstrips his club form, a debate that never really goes away. See the thread.