France selects Maignan and Rabiot to start against Ivory Coast

France will play a friendly against Ivory Coast in Nantes as part of its preparation for the upcoming World Cup in North America. Coach Didier Deschamps announced that Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Adrien Rabiot will start, joining a frontline that includes Hugo Koundé, Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano and Theo Hernández. Marcus Thuram is expected to start on the left, alongside Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki supporting captain Kylian Mbappé. In midfield, Tchouaméni partners Rabiot, with Manu Koné a possible alternative. Defender William Saliba misses training with a back problem. This is the first of two pre‑World Cup friendlies, the second against Northern Ireland later in the week.