What Saliba Said Before France Injury Substitution
The Arsenal defender had been managing the problem for most of 2026 and may need a medical procedure, sources said.
- On Tuesday, Saliba was forced off in the opening half-hour of France's semi-final defeat to Spain, ending his World Cup campaign due to a persistent back injury.
- Saliba has battled the back injury throughout the World Cup and much of 2026, missing multiple training sessions with France to prepare for matches before the situation escalated on Tuesday.
- Julien Laurens reported that Saliba said "my back is gone, my back is gone" as he stopped playing; the defender previously missed around three months in 2022/23 with a similar back problem.
- France still has the third-place play-off on Saturday, but realistically, Saliba should withdraw from the camp entirely to prioritize his recovery over participation in the consolation match.
- With just one month and one day until Arsenal plays Manchester City in the Community Shield, sources suggest Saliba may require a medical procedure, likely sidelining him from that match.
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William Saliba, 25, was injured during the first semi-final. The prognosis is not looking good. According to L’Equipe, the Arsenal defender could miss half the season.
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France defender William Saliba departed in the first half of Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal against Spain at Arlington, Texas, with an undisclosed injury. Saliba sat down near midfield in the 28th minute while taking possession of the ball and was unable to continue. The Arsenal player has struggled with back issues for the past three […]
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