France sweating over William Saliba fitness as UCL final injury could keep him out for 'weeks'
Ciaran McCarthy
William Saliba is in pain and is causing 'genuine concern' for France just days out from the World Cup, reports journalist Santi Aouna.
Saliba played 31 of 38 Premier League games and 12 of 15 in the Champions League, as Arsenal won the former and were runners up in the latter.
The Frenchman has had minor ankle problems but was largely ok through March and April, missing the final game of the Premier League season to prepare for the Champions League final.
Aouna reports that Saliba was 'already compromised' before the tie against Paris Saint-Germain, and though he played 120 minutes in the final, his injury worsened during it.
As a result, he could be sidelined for 'several weeks.'
Indeed, it's reported that he is still in pain, which is causing 'genuine concern' within the French Football Federation, with the World Cup beginning on June 11.
It is not clear exactly how long Saliba could be missing, but the tournament only spans just over a month, and weeks on the sidelines could see him miss a large chunk of the tournament.
France World Cup dates
France kick off the World Cup against Senegal on June 16, before games against Iran and Norway on June 22 and 26 respectively.
The potential round of 32 match, provided they are in the top two in Group I, takes place on June 30, before the round or 16 on either July 4 or 5, the quarters either the ninth or 11th, before the semis and the final on week commencing July 13.
France will be hopeful that Saliba is back fit for the business end of the tournament, with over a month to go until that point, if not sooner.
The Arsenal man didn't miss a minute of the Euros in 2024, so France will see him as a crucial part of their World Cup chances, though there are a number of central defenders in the squad in his stead.
Lucas Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix and Dayot Upamecano all join Saliba in the squad, so if he is out for a period, though he'll surely be missed, there are some good options instead.
