Marcel Desailly fears France have one glaring weakness that could ultimately cost them winning the World Cup.
Les Bleus have justified their pre-tournament status as favourites with a series of outstanding displays during which they have showcased their formidable attacking talent.
Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, in particular, have staked claims to win the Golden Ball and be crowned the tournament’s best player.
Didier Deschamps side were, however, forced to demonstrate altogether different qualities in their last 16 tie amid serious provocation from a Paraguay team who had knocked out Germany in the previous round.
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Morocco, semi finalists four years ago, will offer France’s sternest test yet this evening and Desailly, who won the World Cup back in 1998, fears left-back is an area that the Atlas Lions will look to exploit.
He told sportscasting.com : ‘The only weakness comes at left back. Kounde is not really a problem, because if he’s not capable of producing in the attacking third, at least he knows how to defend and he’s smart enough.
‘Lucas Hernandez goes both ways—his defensive skills are not up to what we are expecting, and his delivery is also not quite up to what we really want.
‘That’s why Deschamps will go for Digne, who is not a better player than Hernandez overall, but at least he is capable of being very strong on the defensive side.’
Should France overcome Morocco and win the tournament, it feels now inevitable that one of Mbappe or Olie will win the Ballon d’Or.
Desailly added: ‘You know, it really depends. If you ask me today, in our minds, we always think about the last one who has performed. And the last one who did perform is Dembele.
‘Your mind straight away talks about the French national team and goes, “Oh, Dembele will get it.” So it depends on the way all of them perform and the stats that will come out of it.
‘Mbappe has managed to become the best striker ever in the French national team, he broke that record at this World Cup, which is an astonishing achievement after a poor club season.
‘Can you imagine having a poor season where you don’t lift a trophy, but you still manage to score 40 odd goals? That is really something.
‘I think it’s amazing that people still want to criticise him, but he’s showing great leadership. Let’s see if he will win the Balon d’Or.
‘It’s not just about the stats; the goals, it’s about the type of goals and the overall performance of the French team that will determine who is going to win the Ballon d’Or.
But both Mbappe and Dembele have the advantage, and then you have Cristiano and Messi looking on at them.
‘As for Olise, I’m not sure the focus should be there yet. I’m not sure he is at the same level as Mbappe and Dembele.
‘He still has to grow in the system. He has great potential and ability, but he’s not yet fully pretending to be a Ballon d’Or contender when you know the names that are a little bit more advanced than him.’