​L'Équipe: Saliba Uncertain for World Cup Opener; Arsenal to Decide on Summer Surgery

L'Équipe has reported on the injury situation of Arsenal and France defender William Saliba.

Due to chronic back pain, the French defender missed Thursday's match against Côte d'Ivoire. He took part in Saturday's training session and is continuing his recovery plan. His goal is to be ready for the match against Senegal on June 16.

Those were the longest hours. Saliba watched as his World Cup dream risked being dashed, in excruciating pain. That was a week ago. The Arsenal defender had just lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain (1-1, 3-4 on penalties). On the flight back from Budapest, and on the team bus, he was suffering.

The back pain that had troubled him for the past six months had never been so intense. From the end of the first half into extra time, each of PSG's few transitions aggravated his back injury. A teammate, concerned by his distress, muttered quietly: "Bad luck..." He was referring to the World Cup.

On Monday afternoon, during tests, the pain subsided. The 25-year-old defender arrived at Clairefontaine on Tuesday and underwent a specific treatment plan. He was on the bench for Thursday's match against Côte d'Ivoire. On Friday afternoon, he ran. On Saturday, he returned to full training and is expected to take part in Sunday's session in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, as France prepare for their second friendly against Northern Ireland. The question now is whether he can be ready for France's first match in the United States against Senegal on June 16. "If he has to play against Senegal without having featured in the two friendlies, his match fitness won't be an issue," a source close to him said, reassuring everyone about his condition.

The coaching staff have not expressed concern about the Gunner's injury this week. The defender has been troubled by an ankle problem for most of the season and now endures daily chronic back pain. "He's been playing with pain for six months. Look at his level – it's incredible!" a source at the London club said, clearly impressed. It is understood that Arsenal's management will decide at the end of the summer whether to pursue a long-term preventative treatment plan or surgery.

For now, Saliba is fully focused on preparing for the World Cup. He knows he will have to play through the pain. During Friday's training match, he briefly grimaced, showing the pain is still on his mind. He also spoke with manager Didier Deschamps and fitness coach Cyrille Moine during the session. His playing time – or lack of it – and any reaction in the match against Northern Ireland will be the primary indicator of his condition and a key test.

In the first round, the six-day gap between the first and second matches, followed by four days between the second and third, should allow sufficient time for Saliba to recover. At Arsenal, his post-match recovery schedule is adjusted accordingly. For Deschamps and his staff, Saliba's physical condition is their main concern. The player from Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis, excelled at Euro 2024 in Germany, notably playing out of position at left-center-back, and was named in the tournament's best XI.

He has been a key player for Deschamps for the past two years and has established himself as one of the most reliable centre-backs in Europe. On paper, his partnership with Dayot Upamecano is arguably the best centre-back pairing in the world. With France employing a 4-2-3-1 formation chosen by the coaching staff, the team's success will depend on the pair's performance throughout the tournament.

Source: L'Équipe