William Saliba playing through back pain at the World Cup
Arsenal defender William Saliba has admitted he has been playing through back pain for months to compete in the World Cup with France.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC0 / Author: Supporterhéninois
Arsenal and France defender William Saliba has revealed that he has been playing through persistent back pain for several months. The 25-year-old remains determined to compete at the World Cup, viewing the tournament as the pinnacle of his career despite his physical struggles.
I've had some minor issues for a few months. I gritted my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff is handling it very well. The World Cup only happens once every four years, so you have to grit your teeth. William Saliba
Saliba played a crucial role in Arsenal’s recent Premier League title success, though the club fell short in the Champions League final against PSG. With France having started their World Cup campaign with a 3:1 victory over Senegal, the defender is fully focused on his international duties.
During the opening match, Kylian Mbappé scored a brace, becoming France's all-time top scorer with 58 goals. Mbappé is now set to potentially earn his 100th cap in the upcoming fixture against Iraq. Manager Didier Deschamps is reportedly considering squad rotation for the match, with players like Bradley Barcola, Lucas Digne, and Manu Koné in contention, while Iraq expects the return of their leader Ali Jasim.