France coach Didier Deschamps has explained recalling AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud.

Giroud hasn't been involved with Les Bleus since last summer's Euros.

Deschamps said: "The return of Olivier Giroud? The most important thing for me is to be consistent and fair in relation to the discourse I can have with the players. Olivier will join us, he doesn't have to do more or less. He was part of this very successful France team, which was also without him. I have always said it, he is one of the selectable players. He is here today, it is linked to the injury of Karim Benzema.

"I'm not going to pay special attention to him. He is part of a group he knows very well. Competition with Karim Benzema? When there is a player who has a status, it is difficult to live if he is always there without the same status. It's not specific to Olivier, there were others before. It is humanly difficult to live.

"The role of Olivier Giroud? I don't take it to tell him 'you'll get 30 or 40%' to see how he will react. I don't make a special case with Olivier. A player who has a status, it is psychologically complicated to have less. A player who has status needs to have an important role to play.

"A new scheme with Olivier Giroud? You give it a lot of importance... I'm leaving with an idea, there's no worry about the role of each other, we stick to what I told you on Thursday.

"The status of Olivier Giroud? Status and hierarchy must be separated. It's not related. A status is in relation to the role of the player, to the fact of playing or not playing.

"He had a status for many years. It's in relation to his use and playing time. There is competition, but it is not linked to the presence of (Kylian) Mbappé or (Karim) Benzema. It's about my choices. He had playing time for very long years. Everything is possible, it is not specific to (Olivier) Giroud. I consider that a player accustomed for years to having a status, it is humanly complicated to have less. This is the reality today, and it always has been."