Why did William Saliba miss France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff?
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
For today’s FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place encounter versus England, France will be missing one of its defensive leaders.
Didier Deschamps had to alter his starting lineup. William Saliba worsened his back ailment during France’s 2-0 semifinal loss to Spain.
Thirty minutes into Tuesday’s semifinal, the Arsenal centre back was removed due to extreme pain. William Saliba was replaced before the halfway point. He was unable to continue after managing the ailment throughout the event.
Meanwhile, FIFA has designated Jesús Valenzuela, a referee from Venezuela, to oversee the game tonight.
Maxence Lacroix, a defender for Crystal Palace, has taken Saliba’s spot in central defence alongside Ibrahima Konaté. France aim to end their World Cup 2026 campaign with a victory. This will depend on whether they win tonight against England.
William Saliba was ruled out for the game against England
Saliba had been playing despite a back injury since March. Didier Deschamps, the manager of France, disclosed that the defender mostly depended on painkillers to be available at the World Cup.
Saliba exacerbated the issue and told teammates that his back could no longer tolerate the discomfort. The ailment reached a breaking point against Spain. In order to prevent additional long-term harm, France’s medical experts decided to exclude him from the third-place playoff.
William Saliba may be out for a long time following the World Cup due to the injury. The defender may need four to five months to recuperate, according to reports. The precise time frame will depend on more medical assessments.
Next week, Saliba is anticipated to travel to London. Arsenal’s medical staff will assess if surgery is required or if a conservative rehabilitation program will address the ailment.
Is William Saliba playing against England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff?
No, he is not playing.
Why isn’t William Saliba playing tonight in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff?
Due to a back injury.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.