Overview
- France opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal in East Rutherford and William Saliba started at centre-back after returning to training from a back complaint.
- Saliba arrived in Les Bleus’ camp carrying a back issue that was scanned and managed with limited minutes in warm-ups, and medical staff declared him fit to start the opener.
- French outlets offered sharply different takes on his display with some praising his positioning, aerial presence and key interventions and others saying he looked overwhelmed and registered few tackles.
- Reports flagged that surgery could be required after the tournament, a developing medical question that Arsenal and France will continue to coordinate because any layoff would affect Arsenal’s summer defensive planning.
- Saliba’s route to this stage was long and tested, moving from early struggles at Arsenal and loans at Nice and Marseille to becoming a first-team pillar for club and country, which frames why his fitness now draws intense scrutiny.