Deschamps Addresses Saliba’s Health Ahead of World Cup
Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national football team, has downplayed concerns about defender William Saliba‘s health as the FIFA World Cup approaches. Reports from ESPN indicated that Saliba, who is 25 years old, was due for evaluations on his recently aggravated back injury, raising worries about his availability for the tournament.
“William is fine and will be managed. He would have played if necessary tomorrow,”
stated Deschamps.
Saliba has been an instrumental player for Arsenal this past season, featuring in 50 out of 63 matches and playing a significant role in their Premier League success and their journey to the Champions League final.
Upcoming Matches and Team Strategy
As the reigning two-time world champions gear up for the World Cup, they will first face off against Northern Ireland on June 8 in Lille before heading to North America where their campaign will kick off against Senegal on June 16.
When asked if he had already finalized his starting lineup for Senegal, Deschamps confirmed that he has some ideas but recognizes that conditions could evolve with two upcoming matches before the World Cup opener.
“Things can happen… We will be cautious about player frustration as we work through the depth chart, especially considering the spacing of the matches in the U.S.,”
he noted.
The French manager is also focused on managing the playing time of Paris Saint-Germain‘s key players, including Ousmane Dembélé and Lucas Hernández, particularly for those who participated intensely in the Champions League final.
“Even if it doesn’t align with the team’s preferences, I must manage their minutes carefully. All 26 players are in solid shape, and this friendly is just one of our preparatory steps, with another match coming up soon against Northern Ireland,”
Deschamps concluded.
France will compete in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway during this summer’s tournament.
