France vs. Northern Ireland: Dembélé, Doué, and Saliba Start as Les Bleus Gear Up for World Cup

France's national football team is set to play their final preparation match against Northern Ireland before departing for the United States for the World Cup. Coach Didier Deschamps has named a starting lineup that strongly resembles what could be his team's first-choice XI for the tournament opener on June 16 against Senegal.

This match in Lille is the last time Deschamps will manage the French team on home soil, having announced his departure after the World Cup. Facing a Northern Ireland team ranked 70th globally and not participating in the tournament, Deschamps has opted for what appears to be his strongest available squad. This includes the return of players like William Saliba, who was rested in the previous match against Ivory Coast.

In attack, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué are set to start on the wings, tasked with supplying Kylian Mbappé, who is aiming for his 57th international goal to equal Olivier Giroud's record. In central defense, William Saliba returns alongside Dayot Upamecano, potentially solidifying the partnership after Ibrahima Konaté's struggles in the last game.

The rest of the lineup remains consistent with the team that faced Ivory Coast, featuring Théo Hernandez at left-back, Jules Koundé at right-back, and the midfield pairing of Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan will be the last line of defense. The match will be played indoors at the Decathlon Arena due to weather concerns in Lille, preventing the Northern Irish from potentially benefiting from rainy conditions they are known to handle well.