France are a well-oiled machine and want to continue dominance at Euro 2020, says Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud

The world champions drew 0-0 away to Germany in their Uefa Nations League opener

Olivier Giroud says the France team is now so well-oiled that every player who comes in immediately knows their role, and the Chelsea striker is backing Didier Deschamps’ young squad to follow up their World Cup triumph with glory at Euro 2020.

Deschamps' men claimed a respectable goalless draw away to Germany in their first match since lifting the trophy in Moscow in July, and displayed the cast-iron solidity that now defines them.

Giroud pinpointed France’s defensive qualities as the most important element of the game, adding that France's biggest challenge now is retaining the focus that will keep them on top.

"Football is an everlasting game," the striker said. "Every time there is a new beginning. You have to ask questions of yourself again and again.

“It’s nice to be at the top but the most difficult thing is to stay at the top. It is not easy to do that mentally but we are aware of that fact and we will try to do our best.

France are 2018 World Cup winners - and nobody will ever be able to change that (REUTERS)

"We have played together for a long time now, since 2014. We have a settled squad. Yes, we have some young players but each player who comes into the team knows what he has to do.

"We showed on the pitch that we have a good understanding. This was a special game, the first one after the World Cup. The important thing for us was to show that we are still very solid, one more time."

While France were not exactly sparkling in attack against Germany, mostly content to sit back and wait for opportunities to counter, Giroud insisted that the key in their first game as world champions was to underline how difficult they are to beat under Deschamps.

"I mean, each team has its own style,” he added. “We play with our quality. We know we are solid. In the World Cup we were always ahead in every game, apart from nine minutes against Argentina. So we just had to keep the result.

“Sometimes you need to be clever and close the game to ensure that result. We didn’t score first in Germany but once again we were very efficient at the back.

“The keeper did amazing on his first cap and Alphonse [Areola] showed he is the future after Hugo [Lloris] retires. He will be the future of the national team. We were very pleased with that.

“We have a lot of talented young players and will carry on like this. We want to keep everyone from the World Cup at the Euros in 2020. We are in a good place and we want to keep going.”