Though Djibril Sidibe and Florian Thauvin have yet to see any action with France at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, they remain as motivated as ever and aware of the role they have to play as fringe members of the Bleus squad.

It was only a few short weeks ago that Monaco right-back Sidibe seemed set for a starting place in Russia. An untimely injury, coupled with some excellent performances by Benjamin Pavard, have seen him drop down the pecking order in the France squad, however.

“I’m happy to be at the World Cup,” said a smiling Sidibe, who remains committed to the cause and considers himself fortunate to have made the trip: “When you’re training every day with players of this quality, you really progress.”

Olympique Marseille forward Thauvin finds himself in a similar position to Sidibe, which is no real surprise given the stiff competition for places and his status as a new arrival in the squad. The 25-year-old has been excelling in training, scoring a hat-trick in the second string’s 11-0 defeat of Spartak Moscow’s U-19 side on the day after France’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Peru.

In French, fringe players are known as coiffeurs because their ultimate aim is to coiffer (‘take’) the place of the first-choice players. Didier Deschamps has been full of praise for the exemplary attitude of his coiffeurs and how quickly they have adapted to the group, though they have every intention of getting off the bench at some stage of the competition: “Obviously I want to play and get out on the pitch; that’s what I’m here for. I’m giving my all but it’s tough to get a place,” explained Thauvin, who played alongside Paul Pogba and Samuel Umtiti when France won the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013.

Tough it may be, but both players are determined to get into the side. While their motivation and commitment to the team remain intact, there is also a sense of frustration at their position. “The coach makes his choices. We talk about it among ourselves, we motivate each other and we try to do as well as we can,” said Sidibe.

And though they have yet to take to the pitch in Russia, they know they have a valuable role to perform in the squad. “It’s my job to lighten the atmosphere in the squad,” said the right winger. “It’s also up to us to help the first-choice players to relax, to motivate and support them.”

That positivity and commitment is shared by every member of the Bleus second string. Whether they are training or talking to the media, there is no irritation on show and no complaints, which must come as a relief to Deschamps, who has repeatedly stressed that the team comes before everything else.

France’s coiffeurs could soon have a role to play on the pitch in France’s next match against Denmark in Moscow on 26 June. Though Deschamps has said it is vital to finish top of the group, with Les Bleus having already qualified for the Round of 16, he may decide to rest some players and give the fringe members of his squad a deserved opportunity to shine.