William Saliba has been ruled out of France’s final World Cup group game against Norway due to injury.
France sit top of Group I following wins over Senegal and Iraq and are ahead of Norway, who are also on six points, due to a superior goal difference.
Les Bleus will be without Didier Deschamps on the touchline as the 57-year-old has returned to France following the death of his mother.
France’s assistant coach, Guy Stephan, will lead the team in Deschamps’ absence for the game against Norway on Friday.
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Saliba, meanwhile, has started alongside Dayot Upamecano for both of France’s games at the World Cup so far but the Arsenal centre-back is being rested against Norway due to an ongoing back injury.
Crystal Palace defender, Maxence Lacroix, who is close to joining Chelsea in a £48 million deal, replaces Saliba at the heart of France’s defence, in one of four changes from the side that beat Iraq.
Surprisingly, Ståle Solbakken has heavily rotated Norway’s team, dropping Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to the bench.
Norway vs France confirmed starting XIs
Norway XI: Selvik; Aursnes, Ostigard, Falchener, Bjorkan; Aasgaard, Berg, Thorstvedt; Oscar Bobb, Strand Larsen, Schjelderup
France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, T.Hernandez; Kone, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Stephan revealed that Saliba would be rested against Norway.
‘Two players will not participate in the training session… William Saliba, who will be rested, and Marcus Thuram, who has a slight calf strain and will be rested today,’ Stephan said.
‘William won’t be there tomorrow. We’ll have to refer to the person [Lacroix] who replaced him in the last few matches.’
Speaking last week, Saliba revealed that he has been playing with the back injury before the start of the World Cup.
‘I’ve had some minor discomfort for several months,’ Saliba revealed.
‘I gritted my teeth because of the Champions League and the Premier League. But the staff are managing it very well. The World Cup only comes around every four years, so you have to grit your teeth.
‘I’m not at 100 per cent but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either, there’s no point in making excuses.’
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