Benjamin Pavard has reportedly been criticised by French team-mates including Ousmane Dembele, with coach Didier Deschamps revealing the defender was not in the right frame of mind to play in their group match with Tunisia yesterday.
Pavard started France's opening match of the World Cup, but was at fault for Australia's opening goal after failing to track Craig Goodwin's run into the box.
The 26-year-old received 'harsh words' from Deschamps in a debriefing after the match, according to L'Equipe.
Pavard's performances have also been scrutinised by some teammates, with Barcelona winger Dembele reported to be among those 'railing against' the defender.
Support has come from the squad's veterans, marking a divide.
Captain Hugo Lloris, 35, and forward Oliver Giroud, 36, have reportedly offered their backing to the under-fire Bayern Munich star.
Pavard lost his place in France's starting line-up for their second match of the group stage against Denmark, with Jules Kounde preferred by Deschamps.
Deschamps opted to make nine changes for yesterday's match against Tunisia with qualification to the knock-out stage already assured.
The 54-year-old, who oversaw France's 2018 World Cup winning team, elected against restoring Pavard to the much changed line-up.
Monaco centre back Axel Disasi was handed his national team debut as Kounde's replacement, with Deschamps seeking to protect the defender from a potential suspension.
Deschamps explained his decision to leave out Pavard in a post match press conference, claiming the defender was not 'in the right disposition' to play against Tunisia.
'I took the decision not to play him, I won't go into the details,' Deschamps said.
'I've had several conversations with him. I don't consider him to be in the right disposition.
'So you'll ask me – is it physical, is it in his head?
'The first match didn't help, of course. That's why I made a different choice.'
The much-changed French side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Tunisia, their first defeat at the World Cup since 2014.
France still progressed to the last-16 as Group D winners, with the holders setting up a clash against Poland.
Deschamps decision to leave out Pavard from the final match differs to the World Cup in Russia, where he was rested in their third fixture before restoring him to team for the knock-out stage.
Pavard played the full match in each of France's knock-out matches in Russia, memorably scoring a stunning goal in the 4-3 win over Argentina in the last-16.
The Bayern Munich defender, who has been capped 47 times, appears unlikely to return to the starting line-up for the upcoming tie against Poland.
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17
Dembele, the most overrated player in this new generation,what has he achieved in his career, pavard is a world champion and Ucl winner if am not wrong, Dembele is a Europa flop.