Lucas Hernandez, N'Golo Kanté and Warren Zaïre-Emery waiting, but spirits high with France | OneFootball

Lucas Hernandez, N'Golo Kanté and Warren Zaïre-Emery are the only ones, among France’s 23 outfield players, yet to feature, but their conduct has been exemplary.

In Lille, Deschamps hugged Kanté before introducing him in the 90th minute of the final warm-up, a gesture L'Équipe reads as affection and thanks.

This could be his first major tournament without minutes. With Hernandez and Zaïre-Emery, he ended the group stage still on zero. The wait may be long, yet none of the trio shows any sign of weariness.

Hernandez has accepted he would not start and is determined to savour a third World Cup. He points to 2018, when he took the left-back spot, and to 2022, when injury in the opener left him preferring the bench to the infirmary. He is content, not putting on a front.

At Bentley University in the United States, his focus has been evident, and Kanté has matched it. The Fenerbahçe midfielder covers ground, trains with full intensity and keeps it simple to lift team-mates.

Against Norway he warmed up and was close to coming on, but the staff chose Jean-Philippe Mateta instead after his aborted AC Milan move. The 2018 champion did not take offence.

Reserved by nature, Kanté is unchanged whether he plays or not, and Deschamps knows he can turn to him, including if he moves to three in midfield. The same applies to Zaïre-Emery, who, after a Champions League final spent on the bench, could feel aggrieved but shows nothing.

Source: L'Équipe