France's World Cup ambitions were dealt a severe blow on Tuesday as influential defender William Saliba was forced off with a suspected muscle injury during their semi-final clash against Spain, which they ultimately lost 2-0. The Arsenal centre-back, 25, went down untouched early in the game, immediately signalling his inability to continue, a sight that sent ripples of concern through both the French camp and his club.
Saliba was seen stretching his leg before being treated by France's medical team and then walking off the pitch unassisted. He was replaced by Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix, making his second appearance of the tournament. The incident occurred with France already trailing 1-0 after Mikel Oyarzabal converted a 22nd-minute penalty following Lucas Digne's foul on Lamine Yamal. Spain later doubled their lead in the second half through Pedro Porro.
The defender had been a near-ever present for Didier Deschamps' side throughout the World Cup, featuring in every minute except for a 4-1 group stage victory over Norway where several key players were rested. His premature exit against Spain not only hampered France's chances of reaching back-to-back World Cup finals but also sparked immediate fears of a long-term absence.
For Arsenal, the news is particularly worrying. The 2025/26 season saw Saliba sidelined for a combined 12 matches due to various fitness setbacks, impacting his consistency for both club and country. His latest injury comes at a crucial time, with the Gunners' new season fast approaching. Arsenal are scheduled to face Manchester City in the Community Shield on 16 August, followed by their Premier League opener against newly-promoted Coventry five days later.
While France's World Cup journey isn't entirely over, with a third-place play-off still to come on Saturday, Saliba now faces a race against time to be fit for that fixture. The immediate focus, however, will be on assessing the severity of his injury and understanding the potential implications for his availability at the start of Arsenal's domestic campaign.