Saliba Injury Scare in World Cup Semi-Final for France and Arsenal
Arsenal’s worst World Cup fear flickered into life in Arlington, Texas, as William Saliba limped out of France’s semi-final against Spain clutching his lower back.
The centre-back, a pillar for club and country over the past two seasons, went down on the half-hour while in possession, immediately signalling trouble. He tried to continue, but the body language told its own story. Moments later, the board went up and Maxence Lacroix was sent on, a cold introduction into the biggest night of his international career.
France were already chasing the game by then. Mikel Oyarzabal had put the European champions ahead from the spot, punishing a rash challenge from Lucas Digne, who misjudged a high ball and kicked through Lamine Yamal in the box. In a tight, tense first half, it was exactly the kind of moment Deschamps could not afford. Losing Saliba turned concern into a full-blown problem.
On the touchline, Lacroix – a defender on Chelsea’s radar – had been warming up with urgency as soon as Saliba hit the turf. After a brief medical assessment, the verdict was swift: the Arsenal defender would not last the 90. Off he came, replaced by the Crystal Palace man, and France’s back line had to be rebuilt on the fly.
For Arsenal, the sight was as worrying as the timing. Saliba had already admitted he was managing a back issue throughout the summer, speaking openly about “minor niggles” that had lingered for months. He pushed through them for the Champions League, pushed through them for the Premier League, and then pushed again for this World Cup, trusting France’s staff to manage his workload.
“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth,” he said before France’s group game against Iraq.
He did exactly that, carrying the problem without any major setback – until the semi-final stage, under the heaviest spotlight of all.
This time, the pain finally caught up with him. And as France chased Spain under the lights in Texas, Arsenal’s staff and supporters could only watch and wait, hoping this worrying scene proves to be a scare rather than the start of a longer story.
