France, considered one of the top contenders for the upcoming World Cup, may be forced to cope without one of their most crucial players at the finals to be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
As reported by Foot Mercato, Arsenal’s central defender William Saliba is set to spend several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an injury. With the World Cup kicking off on 11 June, this development comes as a significant setback for Les Bleus.
The report adds that Saliba had been carrying a knock even before Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, which his team eventually lost to the French champions on penalties. Despite the discomfort, the Arsenal star battled through the entire 120 minutes — a decision that may now jeopardise his participation in the World Cup.
Playing the full match against PSG is believed to have aggravated the injury, described as unspecified by the outlet. The 31-cap French international now faces several weeks of recovery. Depending on the severity and duration of his absence, Saliba could miss part — or potentially all — of the World Cup. The French Football Federation is reportedly highly concerned about his fitness ahead of the tournament.
France at the World Cup: Ibrahima Konate is expected to step in as a high-quality alternative for Saliba.
France will likely be without Saliba, one of their defensive pillars. The 25-year-old, who was recently voted the world’s best defender in a kicker poll of Bundesliga professionals, is normally a first-choice centre-back for Les Bleus.
Since the 2024 European Championship, Saliba has been a key figure in Didier Deschamps’ setup. At the World Cup, he was expected to form the heart of France’s defence alongside Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. The French side is widely regarded as one of the three main title favourites, alongside reigning European champions Spain and defending World Cup winners Argentina.
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, who is set to leave the Reds this summer and has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, is ready to fill in as an immediate replacement. Other defensive options for Deschamps include Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace, Lucas Hernandez of Paris Saint-Germain, and Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona, who typically operates as a right-back.
2026 World Cup: France and Germany could meet in the round of 16.
Led by Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (FC Bayern), and Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), France will begin their World Cup campaign on 16 June against Senegal. They have been placed in what many consider the tournament’s toughest group, alongside Norway and Iraq.
If both France — runners-up in 2022 — and Germany top their respective groups and win their round of 32 matches, the two European heavyweights could face each other as early as the round of 16. France hopes to have Saliba fit in time for the knockout stages.
William Saliba: His international record with France so far
International debut: 25 March 2022 (2–1 friendly win against Ivory Coast)
International appearances: 31
International goals: 0
Major tournaments: 2022 World Cup (1 appearance; runners-up), 2024 European Championship (6 appearances; semi-finals)
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