Varane told his team-mates at halftime against Poland in a subdued dressing room: "We're in the round of 16 of the World Cup, we are living a dream but this dream can end at any time if we continue like this.
"We don't make efforts for each other, we don't work as we should. I'm not aiming this at anyone. I'm thinking of everyone, boys. You have to show something else."
Reflecting on his message, the Man United defender said: "We were not in the game as much as we could have been.
"Sometimes we might not be as comfortable as we should be and I felt the team needed a bit of a boost.
"I needed to express myself and that is what I did at half-time. If I want to talk, I talk. And that is what is expected."
France led by a goal at halftime and ultimately won 3-1. They went on to beat England 2-1 in the semis.
