France face a host of issues as they head into Euro 2016 quarter-final against Iceland

France playmaker Dimitri Payet has been one of the star’s of the tournament and has scored vital goals

WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION

France are expected by their public to win this tournament. It’s as simple as that. The support they receive inside the stadiums on match days is terrific and helped by a ticketing policy that seems to exist purely to assist them.

However, there have been signs that the burden of responsibility is beginning to weigh heavy. France were awful after falling behind against Ireland and were actually booed off at half-time.

Similarly, Arsenal centre forward Olivier Giroud was jeered when he was substituted during the game with Albania in Marseille. France went on to win both games but there have been times when they have looked nervous and unsure. This is something that opponents can play on.

Olivier Giroud has been jeered at times this tournament while France were booed at half-time on Sunday

BRAVE COACH

Deschamps is all smiles and exaggerated gestures but has a steely core and won’t hesitate to make changes when things are not going well. It was his substitutions that turned games against Albania and Ireland his way.

Against the Republic, he hauled off N’Golo Kante at half-time and sent 20-year-old winger Kingsley Coman on. Not a like-for-like swap, this switch saw Paul Pogba drop deeper and allowed Dimitri Payet to roam.

Within 20 minutes, France had effectively turned the game around. Coman is a bit of a fans’ favourite and does not look cowed by this tournament. We can expect him to play a part at Stade de France on Sunday.

TWO MEN DOWN

Leicester City’s holding midfielder Kante was emerging as one of France’s players of the tournament, having carried his Barclays Premier League form seamlessly into Euro 2016. But the 25–year-old had a poor first half against Ireland and picked up a booking that rules him out of the quarter-final.

This is significant news for France as in the early games it was Kante who was providing the hosts with the security in front of a shaky back four. Kante’s place could go to Morgan Schneiderlin, who has just finished an unproductive first season with Manchester United.

Meanwhile, France will also be without first-choice centre back Adil Rami after he picked up a booking. Manchester City’s inconsistent Eliaquim Mangala is expected to fill in. Full backs Patrice Evra and Bacary Sagna, meanwhile, are full of endeavour but vulnerable against a player flying at them.

GENIUS OR MISFIT?

Just what to make of Pogba? The former United player came into the tournament as one of France’s great hopes but was dropped after an unconvincing opening game and although he has since returned he still looks short of his best form.

Deschamps is constantly asked about the Juventus player and admits he is tired of it. But he picked Pogba against Ireland and saw him grow into the game during the second period after struggling in the first.

France’s coach believes Pogba’s problem to be immaturity and he suggested this week that the 23–year-old needs to be calmer during matches.

He was trying to win the game on his own in the early stages after conceding the penalty and this only worked against him. Certainly, there is a vulnerability about a player of whom so much is expected.

THE ONE THEY LOOK TO

These tournaments usually throw up one goalscoring hero and currently this year’s name looks like being Antoine Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid centre forward is known throughout Europe for his exploits in La Liga and the Champions League but was still in single figures for his country before Euro 2016 began.

That has all changed now after an important header broke the deadlock against Albania in the group stages and two wonderfully taken goals against Ireland took his tally to three.

While Payet’s brilliance enabled France to hit the ground running, Griezmann has now emerged to ensure that his country does not lose momentum.

While target man Giroud seems plagued by familiar uncertainty, Griezmann — who will come in off the left or right side — is running hot and will be counting down the minutes until he can next pull his boots on.

France midfielder Paul Pogba needs to be calmer during matches, according to manager Deschamps

SMALL WONDER GRIEZMANN

As a small boy, Antoine Griezmann would run on to the pitch after watching the adults play and practise his headers over and over again.

Those shifts are paying off at the European Championship.

Griezmann has scored three goals, two of them headers, helping France reach the quarter-finals. At 5ft 9in, Griezmann compensates for his lack of height with an elastic frame and great spring. His timing allows him to unleash tremendous power.

‘Ever since I was really small I enjoyed heading and I love to work on headers in training. Last week I practised them a dozen times and it paid off,’ said Griezmann. ‘When I was little, I used to go and watch the Macon first team; I must have been eight years old. At half-time, or after the game, we would all jump over on to the pitch. Someone would be crossing and we’d have to head it.’

With Karim Benzema left out of the Euro 2016 squad due to an ongoing sex-tape scandal, Griezmann is relishing more responsibility.