World champions France are facing mounting injuries ahead of their Euro 2020 Round of 16 match against Switzerland on Monday, with coach Didier Deschamps struggling for options.

The French qualified less convincingly than initially expected after drawing 2-2 against Portugal in their final group game, having won one of three Group F games.

France left-back Lucas Hernandez had to be taken off with a knee injury after the first half and remains doubtful against Switzerland.

His replacement Lucas Digne is also nursing a hamstring injury.

Digne’s replacement in the game against Portugal, midfielder Adrien Rabiot, has himself been dealing with a nagging ankle injury since the end of the season and is not yet at 100 per cent.

To make matters worse, Thomas Lemar suffered a leg injury and Marcus Thuram hurt his right thigh in training on Thursday, hobbling off the pitch with the support of medical staff.

France are already without Ousmane Dembele after the forward had to be taken off injured in their second group game against Hungary. Demebele has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament and will require knee surgery.

“I don’t think this affects us,” Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic told a news conference. “These are problems for Didier Deschamps but he has so many good players to chose from.”

He has a point. Despite the injuries France remain the clear favourites for the game against the Swiss.

Onus on trident

With Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema, Deschamps has enough attacking power to deliver back-to-back major titles, something that would match the country’s achievement in 1998 and 2000.

Benzema and Mbappe swap quick passes and switch positions high up the field, with the quick-thinking and skilful Griezmann operating behind them. But none of them were able to score in the opening 1-0 win over Germany, a match decided by Mats Hummels’ own-goal.

Griezmann did get on the scoreboard in the 1-1 draw against Hungary, while Benzema scored both in the 2-2 draw against Portugal after rejoining the national squad following an exile of almost six years.

We know we need to improve,” said midfielder Paul Pogba, another of France’s key players.