The Colombia national football team vs France national football team lineups for their international friendly on March 29, 2026, featured experienced stars and emerging talent on both sides. Colombia started with James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz, and Luis Suárez, while France selected Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué, and Marcus Thuram. Both teams used a 4-2-3-1 formation, and France won the match 3–1.
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Colombia vs France Match Details
| Match information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Colombia vs France |
| Date | March 29, 2026 |
| Competition | International friendly |
| Venue | Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland, USA |
| Final score | Colombia 1–3 France |
| Colombia coach | Néstor Lorenzo |
| France coach | Didier Deschamps |
| Formation | Both teams started in a 4-2-3-1 |
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Colombia National Football Team Starting Lineup
Colombia’s starting eleven combined an experienced midfield with pace on the wings and Luis Suárez as the central striker.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Álvaro Montero |
| Right-back | Daniel Muñoz |
| Centre-back | Dávinson Sánchez |
| Centre-back | Juan Cabal |
| Left-back | Johan Mojica |
| Central midfield | Richard Ríos |
| Central midfield | Jefferson Lerma |
| Right wing | Jhon Arias |
| Attacking midfield | James Rodríguez (captain) |
| Left wing | Luis Díaz |
| Striker | Luis Suárez |
Source: published match lineup.
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Colombia’s Key Players
- James Rodríguez: Colombia’s captain and primary creative playmaker.
- Luis Díaz: An attacking threat from the left wing, capable of taking on defenders and creating chances.
- Luis Suárez: The central forward tasked with leading the attack.
- Richard Ríos: A midfielder who helped connect the defensive and attacking phases.
- Daniel Muñoz: An energetic right-back who could support attacks down the flank.
France National Football Team Starting Lineup
France selected a technically gifted lineup with N’Golo Kanté providing midfield experience and several creative attackers supporting Marcus Thuram.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Brice Samba |
| Right-back | Pierre Kalulu |
| Centre-back | Maxence Lacroix |
| Centre-back | Lucas Hernández |
| Left-back | Lucas Digne |
| Central midfield | Warren Zaïre-Emery |
| Central midfield | N’Golo Kanté (captain) |
| Right wing | Maghnes Akliouche |
| Attacking midfield | Rayan Cherki |
| Left wing | Désiré Doué |
| Striker | Marcus Thuram |
Source: published match lineup.
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France’s Key Players
- N’Golo Kanté: The experienced captain who helped organise France’s midfield.
- Rayan Cherki: A creative attacker who could find space between Colombia’s defensive and midfield lines.
- Désiré Doué: A dangerous attacking player who scored twice in the match.
- Marcus Thuram: France’s central striker, who scored the team’s second goal.
- Warren Zaïre-Emery: A young midfielder who contributed to France’s balance and ball progression.
Colombia vs France Lineups Comparison
| Position | Colombia | France |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Álvaro Montero | Brice Samba |
| Right-back | Daniel Muñoz | Pierre Kalulu |
| Centre-back | Dávinson Sánchez | Maxence Lacroix |
| Centre-back | Juan Cabal | Lucas Hernández |
| Left-back | Johan Mojica | Lucas Digne |
| Central midfield | Richard Ríos | Warren Zaïre-Emery |
| Central midfield | Jefferson Lerma | N’Golo Kanté |
| Right wing | Jhon Arias | Maghnes Akliouche |
| Attacking midfield | James Rodríguez | Rayan Cherki |
| Left wing | Luis Díaz | Désiré Doué |
| Striker | Luis Suárez | Marcus Thuram |
Both sides used a similar formation, but France’s attacking players were more effective in front of goal.
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Colombia vs France Substitutes
Colombia substitutes
Players available from Colombia’s bench included:
- Camilo Vargas
- David Ospina
- Deiver Machado
- Jhon Lucumí
- Santiago Arias
- Yerson Mosquera
- Gustavo Puerta
- Jáminton Campaz
- Jorge Carrascal
- Juan Quintero
- Kevin Castaño
- Carlos Gómez
- Jhon Córdoba
- Rafael Borré
Jáminton Campaz entered the match and scored Colombia’s only goal.
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France substitutes
France had several experienced attacking options available, including:
- Lucas Chevalier
- Mike Maignan
- Malo Gusto
- Theo Hernández
- Ibrahima Konaté
- Eduardo Camavinga
- Aurélien Tchouaméni
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Hugo Ekitiké
- Randal Kolo Muani
- Kylian Mbappé
- Michael Olise
- Adrien Rabiot
Kylian Mbappé came on as a substitute late in the game rather than starting.
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Goals and Match Highlights
France won the friendly 3–1 after producing a clinical attacking performance.
| Minute | Scorer | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 29′ | Désiré Doué | France |
| 41′ | Marcus Thuram | France |
| 56′ | Désiré Doué | France |
| 77′ | Jáminton Campaz | Colombia |
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Doué scored twice, while Thuram added France’s second goal before halftime. Campaz scored in the second half to give Colombia a consolation goal, but France maintained its advantage until the final whistle.
How the Formations Worked
Colombia’s 4-2-3-1 formation
Colombia used two central midfielders, Richard Ríos and Jefferson Lerma, to provide defensive cover and move the ball forward. James Rodríguez operated behind Luis Suárez, while Luis Díaz and Jhon Arias offered width and attacking support.
The system gave Colombia several ways to create chances, but the team struggled to prevent France from converting its opportunities.
France’s 4-2-3-1 formation
France also used two central midfielders, with Kanté and Zaïre-Emery supporting the four-man defence. Cherki linked midfield to attack, while Doué and Akliouche provided movement around Thuram.
France’s attacking quality made the difference, with Doué scoring twice and Thuram adding another goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the Colombia vs France starting lineup?
Colombia started with Álvaro Montero, Daniel Muñoz, Dávinson Sánchez, Juan Cabal, Johan Mojica, Richard Ríos, Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz, and Luis Suárez. France started with Brice Samba, Pierre Kalulu, Maxence Lacroix, Lucas Hernández, Lucas Digne, Warren Zaïre-Emery, N’Golo Kanté, Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué, and Marcus Thuram.
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2. What formation did Colombia use?
Colombia started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring four defenders, two central midfielders, three attacking midfielders or wingers, and one striker.
3. What formation did France use?
France also started in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kanté and Zaïre-Emery in central midfield and Thuram leading the attack.
4. Who was Colombia’s captain?
James Rodríguez captained Colombia in the March 29, 2026, friendly.
5. Who was France’s captain?
N’Golo Kanté captained France for the match.
6. Who scored in Colombia vs France?
Désiré Doué scored twice and Marcus Thuram scored once for France. Jáminton Campaz scored Colombia’s goal. France won 3–1.
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7. Did Kylian Mbappé start the match?
No. Mbappé was among France’s substitutes and entered late in the second half.
Conclusion
The Colombia national football team vs France national football team lineups featured two 4-2-3-1 systems, with Colombia relying on James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz for creativity and France using Cherki, Doué, and Thuram to lead its attack. France’s finishing proved decisive in the 3–1 victory.
For fans checking the starting XIs, the key distinction is that these are the confirmed lineups from March 29, 2026, not predictions for a future meeting. Always check the date of a match before using a lineup for another fixture.
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