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Didier Deschamps refused to panic before this World Cup when injuries started to topple his star players like dominoes.
He knows precisely what is required to win the tournament as a player and as a coach. Panic does not feature but talent does and France have vast reserves of that.
So the unavailability of forwards Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku, midfielders Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, and defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez have provided opportunities for others.
France's World Cup squad was hit by injuries before the World Cup - including Karim Benzema
France are already safely into the last 16 with six points from two games and Deschamps is expected to change at least half the team when they complete their Group D fixtures against Tunisia today.
Some are looking upon the injury crisis as a necessary catalyst for regeneration, with the crop of young players coming through earning comparisons to those who emerged to win the World Cup in 1998.
'I wasn't particularly young at the time, I was already in my 30s,' said Deschamps.
Actually, he was 29 when he captained France to the title on home soil, 24 years ago, and one of the wise heads offering stability to ambitious youngsters including Thierry Henry (20), Patrick Vieira (21) and David Trezeguet (20).
Zinedine Zidane and Robert Pires were in their mid-20s, but, according to the France boss, the secret is always in the blend of players, and this remains the case. 'We
