William Saliba injury fears addressed by France boss Didier Deschamps
William Saliba is hoping to be fit to start France’s World Cup campaign (Picture: Getty Images)
France managed Didier Deschamps has allayed fears over William Saliba’s fitness ahead of the World Cup campaign beginning this month.
Saliba played the full 120 minutes on Saturday in Budapest as Arsenal were beaten on penalties in the Champions League final by Paris Saint-Germain.
The 25-year-old was then back in north London with the rest of the Gunners squad for the Premier League trophy parade on Sunday afternoon.
The centre-back was on the open-top bus with his teammates celebrating with an incredible crowd of Arsenal fans, reportedly around 1,000,000 strong.
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However, reports emerged on Monday that Saliba was struggling with a back injury and his condition worsened after the Champions League final.
French publication Foot Mercato reported that the defender could be out for several weeks and his participation at the World Cup was in doubt.
Deschamps has dismissed those fears, speaking briefly about the issue at the national team base at Clairefontaine on Monday.
Didier Deschamps sounds relaxed on Saliba’s status (Picture: Getty Images)
As reported by La Depeche, the France boss said he had ‘read nothing’ about an injury, adding: ‘He’s here, everything is fine.’
Saliba did undergo tests on his fitness on Monday, with the medical staff still waiting on results and whether he is 100 per cent fit or not is unclear, despite his manager sounding confident.
RMC Sport say it ‘remains to be seen’ whether he will be fit to start against Senegal on June 16, when France get their World Cup campaign underway.
Saliba is likely to start for France at the World Cup, if fit (Picture: Getty Images)
Saliba will hope to prove his fitness and nail down his place in the starting XI as there is great competition in the heart of defence.
Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate and Maxence Lacroix are also in the squad, while Jules Kounde is also an option at centre-back.
If fit, the likely pairing will be Saliba and Upamecano, with France also facing Iraq and Norway in Group I of the tournament.
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