lucas digne was named among the substitutes as France opened their World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday night. Aston Villa’s left-back was on the bench at the New York/New Jersey Stadium while France started with Theo Hernandez at left-back.
France Starts Hernandez
Didier Deschamps picked Mike Maignan in goal and a back four of Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Hernandez. Kylian Mbappe led the line as France began Group I with Digne available as one of the defensive options on the bench.
Digne Waits on the Bench
The selection leaves Aston Villa watching a familiar split between involvement and patience. Digne is part of France’s squad, but Deschamps preferred Hernandez for the opener, so the Villa defender started in reserve rather than in the first XI.
That choice matters because group-stage lineups can shift quickly, and a bench role keeps Digne in range if France need a left-back change during the match. For Villa, it means their defender’s World Cup night began with a place among the substitutes, not a start against Senegal.
