Blaise Matuidi argues with Gabriel Mercado during the match between France and Argentina AFP
Didier Deschamps is holding out hope for Blaise Matuidi appearing in France’s World Cup quarter-final with Uruguay despite the midfielder’s second yellow card of the tournament coming on Saturday.
The booking was awarded for dissent in the 72nd minute of their 4-3 win over Argentina and will likely force Les Bleus to turn to Corentin Tolissoin Nizhny-Novgorod.
That said, the suspension may be subject to an appeal that France coach Deschamps has admitted he is considering.
“[Matuidi] finds the penalty unjust,” he said post-match. “The card has been given.
“We’ll see if we can get it lifted. Why not? But it seems difficult to come back on this decision. I don’t know the reason [why he was booked].”