Manu Koné, more than France’s third midfielder at the World Cup? | OneFootball

Manu Koné could start for France against Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday at 23:00, a chance to push for a longer run at this World Cup. According to L'Équipe, he would deputise for Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not injured.

Didier Deschamps held a brief one-to-one on Thursday, praising Koné’s training levels and urging him not to ease off, without confirming a start. The 25-year-old knows Tchouaméni from youth teams and feels ready to step in.

Since his debut in September 2024, the AS Rome midfielder has climbed the pecking order, becoming a regular through autumn qualifying. With four starts in six between September and November, he could have expected to reach the World Cup as a starter.

A right thigh injury in March ruled him out of the United States warm-up tour. He returned against Côte d’Ivoire in Nantes, a 1-2 defeat on the fourth of June.

To hit peak condition, he spent five days in Monaco for extra physical work, taking advantage of the Principality’s mild climate, before linking up with France.

Florent Ghisolfi, who signed him for AS Rome in summer 2024 and is now Sunderland’s director of football, rates his poise under pressure. He says Koné uses his body to escape the press, powers past challenges and brings assurance, rarely being caught in dangerous areas.

His game also gives France a vertical edge and, once he drives, he is hard to halt. He now wants the childhood dream to become routine over the coming weeks.

Source: L'Équipe