France manager Didier Deschamps has a slight concern with Theo Hernandez ahead of his side's World Cup 2022 last-16 clash with Poland at the Al-Thumama Stadium on Sunday.

The AC Milan defender left training on Friday with a bruised ankle, but the problem is not expected to be serious enough to keep him out of this knockout showdown.

The reigning champions topped Group D despite a 1-0 loss to Tunisia in midweek, which saw them finish above Australia on goal difference to set up a tie with the Group C runners-up.

West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was a doubt for that contest due to a back problem, but he recovered in time to make the bench as Steve Mandanda enjoyed a rare run-out in goal.

Mandanda was one of several changes made by Deschamps in that game, but Tottenham Hotspur number one Hugo Lloris is sure to return as the last line of defence here.

Raphael Varane held his place in the backline alongside Ibrahima Konate, who should now make way for the returning Dayot Upamecano, while makeshift wing-backs Axel Disasi and Eduardo Camavinga ought to make way for Jules Kounde and Hernandez, assuming that the latter is fit enough.

Youssouf Fofana stood still to ask for a foul against Tunisia, whose talisman Wahbi Khazri took advantage of to surge past him and score the winner on the day, while Jordan Veretout was not at the races in that game either.

As a result, Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot can expect to reform their midfield partnership, as Antoine Griezmann - scorer of a late equaliser that was disallowed on Wednesday - returns to the number 10 role.

Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud all took their spots on the bench for the meeting with Tunisia, but the trio will come back into the XI here, and the latter needs just one more goal to overtake Thierry Henry's all-time men's record for Les Bleus.

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

> Click here to see how Poland could line up for this match

Written by
Ben Knapton