Five Changes Coming for France vs Norway as Deschamps Rotates a Rested Squad

France has already punched its ticket to the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. So now it’s time to tinker. According to a report from L’Équipe, manager Didier Deschamps is planning five changes to the starting lineup for the group stage finale against Norway.

That’s a lot of rotation for a team that just put three past Iraq without breaking a sweat. But with qualification secured, it makes sense to give some key guys a breather and test out a few others in game conditions.

Aurelien Tchouameni, who sat out against Iraq in favor of Manu Koné, is expected to reclaim his spot in midfield. The likely odd man out? Adrien Rabiot. That’s not a knock on Rabiot either — Tchouameni is just that central to what France wants to do, especially when the games start meaning elimination.

Defensive Shuffle: Saliba Gets a Rest, Lacroix Gets a Shot

The most notable change might be in central defense. William Saliba has been dealing with a back issue for months now — he confirmed it himself recently — so the staff is finally giving him a game off. Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, who’s also been linked with a move to Chelsea, is in line to start alongside Dayot Upamecano. That’s a big moment for Lacroix, who doesn’t get many chances to play in a World Cup squad this deep.

On the right side, Jules Koundé could make way for Chelsea’s Malo Gusto. Left back is a bit less certain but Théo Hernandez might come back in for Lucas Digne. Deschamps has options there and it’s the kind of decision that probably doesn’t get settled until the day of the match.

Attack Gets a Refresh Too

Up front, Ousmane Dembele could get a rest. That opens the door for Désiré Doué to slot back into the lineup, likely replacing Bradley Barcola. Doué showed flashes earlier in the tournament and this is a chance to see if he can build on that against a Norway team that still has something to play for.

There’s been no official confirmation from the French camp yet, but the leaks from L’Équipe tend to be reliable on these things. And honestly, it’s smart. Get through the group stage without any new injuries, give the second-unit guys real minutes, and keep everyone sharp. France looks deep right now. This game will tell us a little more about just how deep.