Budapest (AFP)

Perfectly launched in the Euro, the Blues already have a starting lineup that is well established and difficult to compete with for "hairdressers" (substitutes) with a well-supplied CV but with reduced playing time, pushing Didier Deschamps to use dialogue to "not to lose anybody".

Olivier Giroud, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembélé, Thomas Lemar, Corentin Tolisso ... The five-star bench of the France team would make any other European nation dream.

But in the workforce of world champions, difficult to find a place.

Even during the two preparation matches, the coach had marked the spirits by aligning his eleven type, with one exception: Corentin Tolisso replaced N'Golo Kanté, remained with Chelsea for the Champions League, then Adrien Rabiot, slightly embarrassed to an ankle.

The first official match did not reverse the trend, on the contrary.

Deschamps made only two changes - out of five possible - on Tuesday against Germany (1-0), offering four minutes to Dembélé and ten to Tolisso, including eight minutes of added time.

During the three weeks of preparation at Clairefontaine, the hope of seeing the hierarchy slightly jostled could exist: Jules Koundé had scored points at the right-back position, Dembélé and Coman had impressed against Wales (3-0) after their entry into play and Giroud had signed a double against Bulgaria (3-0).

- Keep "the banana" -

Deschamps had even underlined that "the difficulties (were) more numerous in training" than in a match, being delighted to have a "group that has the answer".

But the solid entry of the Blues in Munich slowed down the ambitions of the second knives: Giroud did not even warm up and Coman did not have the chance to tread his Munich lawn ...

However, this did not erase the broad smiles from the faces of the substitutes, like a Giroud in heaven after the match.

But the management of the group and the "egos" promises to be crucial in the coming days.

"Our goal, especially when we are in a big competition, is not to lose anyone. The first day, they are all happy, they all have the banana. After, each day that passes ... We must give as much if that is no longer for those who play little or not, "Deschamps told AFP in early May.

“The most complicated area is human management, obviously”.

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Vice-captain Raphaël Varane extended this aspect on Wednesday: "It's a competition that will be trying, we will need the entire workforce, whether in the attitude, the atmosphere or on the field", he said.

"At any time, every player can have his chance, to help the team and everyone is aware of that".

- Reservists -

The question is made even more thorny by the expansion of the lists to 26 players, which requires the management to place three players in the stands for each match.

A rule perceived by the staff as an additional cleaver hovering above the ten potential "reservists" ...

"The coach told us from day one: there will be choices to be made. But that may change depending on the matches," pointed out midfielder Moussa Sissoko, aware that "there will be no the time to pull the face on his side, because a player who will not be on the sheet for a match, could be there on the next or even start it ".

"We will need everyone, without qualms, with the same desire, the same determination," added the Tottenham player, appointed reservist on Tuesday alongside Léo Dubois and Marcus Thuram.

Deschamps' choices on Saturday against Hungary, the less tough opponent in Group F, will thus be observed.

They could confirm a beginning of the hierarchy between the replacements, whether in attack - Giroud in front of Ben Yedder?

Dembélé in front of Coman?

Thuram at the back of the pack?

- or in defense.

In this sector, for example, the novice Koundé seems to overtake Dubois, Pavard's usual understudy ...

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"The matches will be won at 26," captain Hugo Lloris said ahead of the Euro.

The first won above all at 11. The challenge now is to make the other 15 understand that they also have their part in the success.

© 2021 AFP