Moving on in sport is never easy, even if the process is made easier by having the world’s best player at your disposal. France have an impressive recent record in international tournaments, having reached the finals in three of the last four, but their best performances – their elimination of Germany in 2016, their shackling of Belgium and Uruguay in 2018 – have been driven by canny midfielders who are full of running and self-sacrifice. A hallmark of Didier Deschamps’ style, this was best exemplified by the leather-lunged Blaise Matuidi and N’Golo Kanté, but even Paul Pogba turned in workmanlike displays in the centre of the park. With Pogba banned, Matuidi retired and Kanté having swanned off to Saudi Arabia, his form undone by injuries, they require a succession plan. Yes, France reached the final of the last World Cup, but they failed to really stamp their authority on any one match. Besides their quarter-final against England, they were not really tested before they faced Argentina. Their midfield was uneven, with Kylian Mbappé’s goals and Antoine Griezmann’s new role helping to paper over the cracks. Griezmann is a complete footballer at the top of his game for more than a decade. He has a fair case to be considered the best player in the world not named Mbappé without a Ballon d’Or. A winger or second striker for much of his career, he has been used more often as a No 8 for his country in recent tournaments. In that position he can both drive the attack while also knitting play together, seemingly often on his own. Before Saturday night, Griezmann had featured in France’s last 84 matches – a world record run that dates back seven years. Injury kept him out of France’s 2-0 defeat to Germany on Saturday – a game that offered a worrying preview of what life without the 33-year-old will be like. It’s a strange situation for France. It’s not as if the manager lacks options: Aurélien Tchouameni has looked like a canny buy at Real Madrid; Adrien Rabiot has impressed for France despite looking uninterested for Juventus; and teenager Warren Zaïre-Emery could be a generational talent. However, that trio – with Tchouameni holding and Rabiot on the left in a 4-3-3 - were unquestionably the team’s weak link against a Germany side that has had its own struggles of late. Germany unexpectedly controlled the match and they would have won the game by more had Brice Samba not made a flurry of fine saves late on. At 24, Tchouameni is still young for international football – as is 18-year-old Zaïre-Emery – but the Real Madrid man has made 30 appearances for his country and his positioning should be better. He was tormented by Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, which had a knock-on effect on his teammates in the centre of the park. Far from being cowed by his first real test in international football, Zaïre-Emery was the most solid of the trio, showing plenty of graft if not the inventiveness that might be expected from him. Rabiot was far worse, though, looking stretched physically and devoid of creativity on the ball – both things that Griezmann would have offered in spades. Yes, this was just a friendly and Griezmann will be back for the Euros, but the performance did not bode well for a team that has succeeded in recent years despite its midfield rather than because of it. There will be more to come from Zaïre-Emery but, for the moment, France look a little short of options – something Benjamin Pavard tried to refute half-heartedly after the match: “Antoine is very important to us, but we have very good players in this position. At the end of the day, it’s true that he’s a leader and that he’s very important in the squad.” The second half of Pavard’s statement is undoubtedly true, but the jury remains out on the first. Deschamps has a similar problem in attack. Mbappé regularly plays centrally for his club but he is still used primarily on the flanks for his country, with record scorer Olivier Giroud playing as an orthodox No 9. On this occasion, though, Deschamps started Marcus Thuram in that role. Thuram has been impressive for Inter this season, helping them to the summit of Serie A, and he probably deserved the start ahead of Randal Kolo Muani, but he was largely ineffective and struggled to link with Mbappé and Dembélé on the flanks. Thuram is a fine player but he does not hold the ball up as well as Giroud, relying more on his pace and craft, as well as service from midfield. Again, the talent is there, but the player’s lack of adaptability stymied the team. Deschamps’ options up front are many but too similar: fast attackers who can stretch defences at will but often lack end product. Ousmane Dembélé is a joy to watch when playing well but the team looks disjointed without a true focal point – something that none of Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, Kingsley Coman (when fit) or Moussa Diaby can offer. Giroud (who came off the bench) and Griezmann will both be back in the summer and France probably remain narrow favourites to win the tournament. But, as they prepare to ride into the sunset, it remains to be seen how France replace their sublime qualities. Talking points Brice Samba was impressive in goal against Germany. He was probably France’s best performer and continues to make his battle with Mike Maignan for the No 1 jersey an intriguing one. He made four saves and was not at fault for the goals he did concede. With Lens finding form in the league as well, Samba could be as vital for his country this summer as he has been for his club in recent years. Finally, is there a chance Mbappé doesn’t go to Real Madrid this summer? The Parisian has been adamant that he wants to play for France in the Olympics this summer, but the Spanish club say they will not release players for the tournament. The player has been circumspect on the matter, but one has to wonder whether this will affect his move.