What happened: France will not take any risks with Aurelien Tchouameni and his injury, and the midfielder will not feature in Saturday's World Cup round-of-16 match against Paraguay. Per Fabrice Hawkins, Tchouameni is expected to be back in the next round.

Why it matters: Losing a midfield anchor for a knockout match is a significant absence, and the cautious approach signals France is managing his fitness with the later rounds in mind. Tchouameni had already been ruled out earlier with a thigh issue, and the timeline now points to a short-term absence rather than a tournament-ending one.

What to watch: Watch for confirmation of France's starting midfield against Paraguay and for updates on Tchouameni's recovery ahead of a potential return in the next round.