Lucas Hernandez expected to start for France despite knee injuries and limited PSG minutes | OneFootball

Lucas Hernandez has reasserted his place with France despite two knee injuries and scant PSG minutes, as they face Colombia on Sunday at 21:00.

According to L'Équipe, he is expected to start, and he trained on Saturday in upbeat mood in Maryland.

Didier Deschamps prizes loyalty, seen before with Olivier Giroud and Randal Kolo Muani. Despite only 437 minutes for PSG in 2026, the fewest among France players, Hernandez remains trusted.

Recalled in June last year for the Nations League finals after more than a year out since March 2024 with a cruciate rupture, he then started in the 2-0 win over Germany. He had also recovered from a knee injury at the 2022 World Cup opener, returning as a starter by September 2023 against Ireland, another 2-0 win.

A rare left-footed defender who can play left-back and centre-back, he fits Deschamps' plan to carry three players per position. Only four 2018 world champions remain, Kylian Mbappé, N'Golo Kanté, Ousmane Dembélé and Hernandez.

With a squad expanded to between 24 and 26 players next summer, he is considered easy to manage, and Kanté has described him as cheerful and integral to the group.

He has not agitated at PSG and privately accepts Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes are in form. Luis Enrique values his team-first approach and views him as a leader by example, while Hernandez says he feels 100 percent and pain free and will aim to turn that freshness into an edge in the match.

Source: L'Équipe