Lucas Digne
Aston Villa · UEFA Nations League · Defender · #12 · France · 32 yrs
Lucas Digne news
How old will Kylian Mbappé and France’s 2026 World Cup players be in 2030, and could they return?
With the dreams of winning the next World Cup after reaching the semifinal, France should see many players joining Kylian Mbappé in the next competition. While the end of the 2026 World Cup wasn’t what France expected after losing to Spain in the semifinal, the future still looks bright as the team led by Kylian Mbappé could largely return in 2030. The most important thing for France going forward is that Mbappé will be just 31 years old. With the advances in sports science and player longevity, that age should not be a problem for a player of his caliber. Most of his attacking teammates should also return as they are younger, with the exception of Ousmane Dembélé, who is older than Mbappé. France continue to produce talented players at every position, with the biggest question perhaps being who will succeed Didier Deschamps as manager. The exact opposite is true for some of the other players, with the main name who is unlikely to be present being N’Golo Kanté, who will be 39 years old by then and therefore unlikely to earn another call-up despite how important he has been for the team. Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Digne, Lucas Hernández and Brice Samba are also among the least likely players to return. Current team’s age in 2030 PositionPlayerBirthdateAge (June 8, 2030)GoalkeeperBrice SambaApril 25, 199436GoalkeeperMike MaignanJuly 3, 199534GoalkeeperRobin RisserDecember 2, 200425DefenderLucas DigneJuly 20, 199336DefenderLucas HernándezFebruary 14, 199634DefenderTheo HernándezOctober 6, 199732DefenderDayot UpamecanoOctober 27, 199831DefenderJules KoundéNovember 12, 199831DefenderIbrahima KonatéMay 25, 199931DefenderMaxence LacroixApril 6, 200030DefenderWilliam SalibaMarch 24, 200129DefenderMalo GustoMay 19, 200327MidfielderN’Golo KantéMarch 29, 199139MidfielderAdrien RabiotApril 3, 199535MidfielderAurélien TchouaméniJanuary 27, 200030MidfielderManu KonéMay 17, 200129MidfielderMaghnes AklioucheFebruary 25, 200228MidfielderRayan CherkiAugust 17, 200326MidfielderWarren Zaïre-EmeryMarch 8, 200624ForwardOusmane DembéléMay 15, 199733ForwardJean-Philippe MatetaJune 28, 199732ForwardMarcus ThuramAugust 6, 199732ForwardKylian MbappéDecember 20, 199831ForwardMichael OliseDecember 12, 200128ForwardBradley BarcolaSeptember 2, 200227ForwardDésiré DouéJune 3, 200525
Ousmane Dembélé reportedly fueled ‘tensions’ within France by criticizing their lack of pressing vs Spain
Amid France's defeat to Spain, Ousmane Dembélé reportedly decided to criticize the way his teammates were pressing. Far from solving the problems, the Les Bleus dressing room did not receive his comments well. Despite France arriving as the clear favorite, they failed to impose their attacking brilliance against Spain. Unlike previous matches, they were overshadowed, being dominated by their opponents. Therefore, Didier Deschamps’ team were defeated 2-0, leaving them out of the title race. Seeking to solve the problems, Ousmane Dembélé reportedly tried to correct the team’s pressing, resulting in tensions inside the dressing room. According to L’Équipe, Ousmane Dembélé spoke in the France dressing room at halftime. In an attempt to turn the game around, he strongly criticized the way his teammates were pressing. He emphasized that they were uncoordinated, something that greatly annoyed his teammates. They considered the criticism unjustified, as the 29-year-old star was also having problems in that aspect. Dembélé has been one of France’s best leaders in recent years. Contributing with his collective play, he has been one of the team’s standout performers. However, he did not have his best match against Spain, failing to create space in the defense or drive the team’s collective play. As the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, his performance was far from brilliant, causing his team to remain without a clear attacking presence. While Dembele is in the eye of the storm over his alleged criticism, his performance was not to blame for France’s defeat. Facing a team that was brilliant collectively, they were outplayed. Players such as Adrien Rabiot, Kylian Mbappé, and Lucas Digne looked clearly inferior, making mistakes and failing to be effective. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup third-place match, head coach Didier Deschamps may need to make some adjustments. Ousmane Dembele #7 of France crosses the ball against Alex Baena #15 of Spain. Ousmane Dembélé’s advice could be key for France vs. England Didier Deschamps has not achieved his objective with France at the 2026 World Cup. Although they entered the tournament as top contenders, they never managed to shine as a solid collective team. Instead, they were a group of stars who stepped up in key moments. Because of this, Dembélé’s reported advice could be the key for Les Bleus as they pursue victory against England in the third-place match. If France manage to organize their pressing after losing possession, England could be significantly limited on the counterattack. With this step, they would immediately improve their collective play. Therefore, the head coach could make some changes in midfield and even in defense. Because of this, Ousmane Dembélé has acted as a natural leader of the team, speaking truths that may be uncomfortable but necessary for the team.
Deschamps on refereeing after France defeat to Spain: ‘If I say something, I’ll look like a sore loser’
France were handed a sobering 2-0 defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, enduring a difficult night at Dallas Stadium. With the referee's performance emerging as one of the most debated aspects of the match, head coach Didier Deschamps did not shy away from the topic, while carefully choosing his words: "If I […] France were handed a sobering 2-0 defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, enduring a difficult night at Dallas Stadium. With the referee’s performance emerging as one of the most debated aspects of the match, head coach Didier Deschamps did not shy away from the topic, while carefully choosing his words: “If I say something, I’ll look like a sore loser.“ Speaking to beIN Sports after the game, Deschamps made his position clear while stopping just short of a direct accusation: “If I say something, I’ll look like a sore loser because we lost. But I ask you the question of whether the referee has the level required to officiate a semi-final. There is the penalty, but it’s not just that—that’s just on top of it all. I have nothing against tonight’s referee, but ask yourselves that question.“ The penalty that led to Spain‘s opening goal was Deschamps’ primary point of contention. While he accepted that Lucas Digne made contact with Lamine Yamal, the French camp’s argument centered on whether the 19-year-old had first touched the ball with his arm before the foul, a detail that went unreviewed by VAR. Beyond the penalty, Deschamps made clear that Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton’s overall performance had left him unconvinced, even as he acknowledged that France had been outplayed on the night and gave Spain full credit for the victory. Another look at the Lucas Digne challenge on Lamine Yamal that resulted in a Spain penalty pic.twitter.com/cfwNX5QFbo— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 14, 2026 Earlier in his post-match remarks to M6 and beIN Sports, the France coach offered a broader reflection on the elimination. “The players are devastated, but we have to be logical—we were second best on a technical level. It’s our own fault. But I am going to ask a question: does the referee have the level required to officiate a semi-final? I’m not going to answer that. There were quite a few situations,” he said. Deschamps closed by directing his final words at Spain’s performance rather than the officiating. “But the primary reason is that we were second best, with several technical errors and passes that could have led to chances. This is the very highest level, even if it hurts. We are going to play the third-place play-off. I don’t want to throw away everything that has been achieved, but in this match, Spain showed something extra,” he concluded. Deschamps to coach one more World Cup game Deschamps’ legendary tenure as the head coach of the French national team is rapidly drawing to a close, with the semifinal defeat marking the official end of their 2026 World Cup championship run. While French icon Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be the next man to take the helm of the program, Deschamps will have one final match on the sidelines in the third-place playoff. Despite being unable to replicate his historic championship run from Russia 2018 where the French were crowned kings of the world, Deschamps has officially become the coach with the most matches managed in World Cup history with 26. With the semifinal matchup against Spain, he officially surpassed the legendary record of German manager Helmut Schön, who held the previous benchmark of 25 games, and will add one more game with the clash for the third place.
Spain beat France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final
Spain beat France with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro to reach the World Cup final with a 2-0 victory. A huge match was expected in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, and France and Spain delivered as they battled for a place in the final, with Spain finishing with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. The first half had few goal-scoring chances, but Spain took the lead through a penalty after Lamine Yamal was brought down by Lucas Digne while trying to reach the ball. Oyarzabal stepped up and fired a powerful shot to the left side of Mike Maignan, who went the right way but could not stop it. Spain’s superior ball control became even more evident in the second half, with France unable to react. After a great combination between Porro and Dani Olmo, Porro went one-on-one against the goalkeeper and finished with precision to secure the victory.
Report: Aurelien Tchouameni set to start for France vs Spain, leaving Manu Koné on bench
In France's most recent victory over Morocco, head coach Didier Deschamps decided to start Manu Koné in midfield. Despite his impressive performance, Aurélien Tchouaméni is reportedly expected to return to the starting lineup. Maintaining an attacking approach, France have remained one of the top contenders at the 2026 World Cup. To defeat Morocco in the quarterfinals, head coach Didier Deschamps decided to make a change in midfield, opting for Manu Koné alongside Adrien Rabiot. Although he emerged as one of the team’s best players, he could return to the bench. Aurélien Tchouaméni is reportedly expected to return to the starting lineup against Spain. According to L’Equipe, Didier Deschamps has decided to bring Tchouaméni back into the lineup. During a training session before facing Paraguay, he was diagnosed with a minor muscle injury, leaving him out of the previous two games. Even if Koné performed very well in midfield, head coach believes that Aurélien can provide more balance in midfield, as he has already been fully recovered. While Aurélien Tchouaméni was not coming off his best season with Real Madrid, he established as a starter for France throughout the 2026 World Cup. Without being the team’s most eye-catching player, he has managed to be key in the high press, controlling the tempo of the game. In addition, he has developed a strong understanding with Adrien Rabiot, who plays more as a box-to-box midfielder, moving with freedom while remaining solid defensively. Report: Deschamps makes little changes to France’s starting XI vs Spain France will face Spain in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. After Tchouaméni returned to full fitness, they no longer have any absences in the roster, as Kylian Mbappé’s physical issues are not considered serious. As a result, head coach Didier Deschamps has reportedly decided to stick with his tactical approach, making only one change by bringing Aurélien back into midfield, as he looks to lead France to a third consecutive World Cup final. Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates with teammates after scoring In case of keeping a similar lineup, Les Bleus could lineup as follows: Mike Maignan, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué; Kylian Mbappé. France’s path to beating Spain may start in the midfield Spain are one of the most dominant teams at the 2026 World Cup. Not only do they possess outstanding goalscoring quality, but their midfield also controls the tempo of the game. Because of this, France will have greater difficulty imposing their style of play, as Spain will approach the match offensively. With that in mind, Didier Deschamps will need to dominate the opposition’s midfield in order to pursue victory. If France manage to control the midfield, they would force Spain to play in transition. Without their wingers at their best, Luis de la Fuente’s team would lose the strongest part of their game: their collective build-up play. As a result, Rabiot and Tchouaméni need to be at their best, but Ousmane Dembélé will also need to contribute in order to put their opponent to sleep and control the game.
Is Kylian Mbappe playing? France vs Morocco confirmed lineups for the 2026 World Cup game
After shining in the Round of 16, France and Morocco will face each other in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup in one of the tournament's most anticipated matches. With that in mind, fans are closely watching Kylian Mbappé's availability, as he is expected to be the difference-maker. France face Morocco in the quarterfinals in one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 World Cup. Both Didier Deschamps’ team and Mohamed Ouahbi’s team are among the tournament’s best attacking sides, meaning individual quality could decide the match. Given how competitive the game is expected to be, fans are closely watching Kylian Mbappé‘s availability, as he is expected to be the difference-maker. Kylian Mbappé will start for France, as he has no suspensions or injuries. Head coach Didier Deschamps continues to view him as an undisputed starter, building the team’s play around him to maximize his goalscoring threat. As one of the tournament’s top scorers, he could arrive highly motivated, looking to score and equal or surpass Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot. Alongside Mbappé, Deschamps will keep his attacking trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué. Beyond their goals, they will need more than ever to excel in counter-pressing after losing possession to prevent Morocco’s counterattacks. In addition, he will not make many changes to his starting lineup, as his team are in outstanding form and are highly versatile. While they do not arrive as top contenders, Morocco could still surprise France. Despite the significant absence of Ismael Saibari, they have alternatives in his roster, with Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi expected to take on leadership roles. Nevertheless, the main challenge will be the defensive aspect, as controlling it would give them a strong chance to hit France on the counterattack and push for victory, requiring quality finishing in front of goal. Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates with Dayot Upamecano #4 and Michael Olise #11. France confirmed lineup vs Morocco With their outstanding performances at the 2026 World Cup, France arrive as clear favorites for their match against Morocco. Head coach Didier Deschamps appears determined not to make any changes to his starting lineup, keeping Kylian Mbappé as the focal point of his team. Although they are outstanding in attack, their most important aspect will be the defensive recovery of their full-backs, where they can limit Morocco’s attacking threat. Considering this, Les Bleus will lineup as follows: Mike Maignan; Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué; Kylian Mbappé. Morocco confirmed lineup vs France Unlike France, Morocco arrive for today’s match with absences in their roster. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi will be without his top scorer, Ismael Saibari, due to a physical issue. As a result, Brahim Díaz will be under the spotlight, as he will have to take on a leading role. Nevertheless, the main challenge will be defensively, as they must contain the goalscoring threat of their opponents, who are one of the tournament’s top contenders. With this in mind, Morocco will play as follows: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Anass Salah Eddine; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilel El Khanouss; Chemsdine Talbi.