France have lost versatile defender Lucas Hernandez to a devastating cruciate ligament rupture ahead of the second match of their World Cup 2022 Group D campaign against Denmark on Saturday evening.

The Bayern Munich man tore his ACL in the build-up to Australia's opening goal in Tuesday's clash, although the holders turned the game on its head to run out 4-1 winners.

Victory at Stadium 974 versus Denmark would confirm France's place in the last 16, but they must do so without Hernandez, who has now withdrawn from the tournament and faces months on the sidelines.

Thankfully for Didier Deschamps, no other players picked up fitness woes to add to his myriad of injury-related absentees, as Theo Hernandez prepares to come in for his stricken brother on the left-hand side.

The AC Milan left-back could be one of two alterations at the back for Les Bleus, as Raphael Varane was passed fit to make the bench following his hamstring problem and will be eyeing Ibrahima Konate's spot in defence.

Dayot Upamecano and Hugo Lloris can expect to hold their places at the back, but Jules Kounde is expected to replace Benjamin Pavard, while Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni starred in the win over Australia and ought to form the double pivot once more.

Kingsley Coman missed training on Friday with hip discomfort, but an unchanged attacking line should see Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele operate behind Olivier Giroud, who scored his 50th and 51st goals for France in midweek.

Should the 36-year-old make the net ripple on Saturday, he will become the highest goalscorer in the history of the French men's team, having now gone level with Thierry Henry's 51.

France possible starting lineup: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

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