France defender William Saliba will not participate in the team's training session on Friday ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener, as he continues to recover from back pain, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced.
Saliba's Recovery Plan
The Arsenal star, who played a key role in the Gunners' Premier League title triumph after 22 years, has been experiencing back pain following a long and exhausting season. Despite Arsenal's domestic success, they finished as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final. Saliba will follow an individual recovery program to regain full fitness.
France Coach's Confidence
France coach Didier Deschamps had earlier expressed optimism that Saliba would be fit in time for the World Cup. The FFF statement, as quoted by Reuters, confirmed that Saliba will skip team training, while Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni are also being rested as a precaution.
France's World Cup Schedule
France is set to begin their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16, followed by matches against Iraq and Norway. The team is aiming to defend their title after winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
France's FIFA World Cup Squad
- Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Brice Samba
- Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
- Midfielders: N'Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery
- Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram
Saliba's absence from training is a precautionary measure, and the team is hopeful he will be ready for the opening match. France will rely on their depth in defense, with players like Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate available to step in if needed.
