Saliba Injury Scare Hits France and Arsenal in World Cup Semi-Final

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 reaching for the area that has troubled him all summer. He tried to continue, but the body language told its own story. After a brief assessment, the decision came: he would not play the full 90.

Maxence Lacroix, already on Chelsea’s radar, was sent to warm up with urgency and replaced Saliba before the interval. For Didier Deschamps, it was a second blow in a half that had already tilted Spain’s way. For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, watching from afar, it was the moment the World Cup stopped being a spectacle and became a risk.

By then, France were already chasing the game. Spain, the reigning European champions, had taken the lead from the spot after a clumsy, panicked moment in the box. Lucas Digne misread a high ball and, in trying to recover, kicked through Lamine Yamal. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and buried the penalty, and Les Bleus went in 1-0 down at the break.

Saliba’s exit, though, carried a weight beyond the scoreline.

The 25-year-old had admitted earlier in the tournament that he was playing through a back issue, one that has lingered for several months. Speaking before France’s group game against Iraq, he explained he had been gritting his teeth through the Champions League and Premier League run-in, leaning on careful management from the coaching staff to stay on the pitch.

He made it clear he was willing to push himself for this World Cup, a tournament that comes around only once every four years. Until the semi-final, that gamble had seemed under control. No major setbacks, no obvious flare-ups, just a defender operating at his usual high level despite the background pain.

Then came Arlington. Then came the half-hour mark.

France lost a key defender on the night. Arsenal may yet be counting the cost long after the World Cup leaves Texas behind.