France into World Cup knockout stage after beating Peru

Substitutes could play a major role in this game too, Olivier Giroud made an instant impact against Australia and most likely feature again. “But in our weaker periods, we were still solid”.

“We need to hold onto first place by not losing against Denmark. We’re talking about it a lot and trying to make progress so we can get stronger”, declared France captain and ‘keeper Hugo Lloris, who will earn his 100 cap for France against the South American side.

And if you’re away from home and don’t have a decent wifi connection – you might want to avoid watching an entire match on your smartphone.

Poulsen, who was also the offender when Denmark conceded a penalty to Peru through VAR in their opening match, received a yellow card in the process and will miss Denmark’s crucial encounter against France on June 26 as it is his second booking of the tournament.

Captain Guerrero, starting after seeing a 14-month drug ban frozen to allow him to play in Russian Federation, could have been Peru’s hero but his 87th-minute free kick was easy pickings for Lloris as France settled for a one-goal victory.

The French tactician brought Olivier Giroud and Blaise Matuidi back into the starting XI after benching them against the Aussies and the pair made an immediate difference, with the Chelsea man involved in the only goal of the game.

“Do not ask me to dribble like Kylian”, Matuidi joked with BeIn Sports.

“Obviously, we hoped it would turn out differently but, in general terms, the team gave everything they had on the pitch in both games”, he said. “We know we can improve and that is the direction we are trying to head in”.

Champagne football is what the footballing world is accustomed to when watching France but in the second half, they were forced to defend and they did so superbly.

“I think that everybody was very, very good”, Pogba said. “I am surrounded by great talents”.

Pogba, 25, told French television at the weekend that he was “the most criticised player in the world”.

If Deschamps were to ignore Advincula and Carrillo – and allow them to find two-on-one situations against suspect left-back Lucas Hernandez – France could get torn apart. That said, the Atletico Madrid man’s struggles might have created an opening for the Lyon star against the Danes.

‘With N’Golo it’s easier, he runs everywhere, he has fifteen lungs.

Jonathan Johnson covers PSG and the French national team for ESPN FC.