When France boss Raymond Domenech was asked which current player reminds him most of himself during his playing days, it was somewhat surprising when he announced Gaël Givet, the young Monaco defender. “Like Givet I was a fighter, not afraid to get stuck in,” Domenech said. “What I admire most about Gaël is the way he never gives up, even when his team are losing 4-0 he carries on battling.” France’s admiring trainer continued: “I’d like to have more players like Gaël. If my team showed that sort of determination all over the pitch, we’d be very difficult to stop.”

Givet’s call-up to the France squad was also something of a surprise, but the versatile defender has adapted well and is now one of Les Bleus’ first-choice centre-backs. Born in Arles in the south of France, Givet grew up in the same neighbourhood as Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé. The pair played in the same teams throughout their youth, starting with their local club and progressing through the junior France teams together.

It was a nice touch, therefore, when Givet and Cissé both came off the bench to play the second half against Bosnia in August. After making his international bow, Givet said: “I think there would have been a few people smiling back in Arles at that moment.”

According to the Monaco Coach Didier Deschamps, Givet, who signed onto the club’s books aged 14, has benefited considerably from the experience he gained in last season’s run to the Champions’ League Final. “Givet has always had special fighting qualities,” Deschamps said. “He’ll put his head where others wouldn’t dare put their feet and that’s a part of his game I don’t want to take away. But in the last year he has become a more rounded player. Now he plays with composure as well as aggression.”