Saliba's Crucial Absence
William Saliba's back injury sidelines him from France's crucial Norway clash, impacting World Cup hopes.
France will face Norway without key center back William Saliba in a winner-takes-the-group showdown at Gillette Stadium in Boston. Both teams enter with six points and a perfect record, meaning the loser faces a harder path through the knockout rounds. SI confirmed Saliba will not start after missing the final training session the day before the match.
The 25-year-old Arsenal defender has been playing through a chronic back injury for several months. He admitted he has been "gritting his teeth" through the pain to compete for both club and country. ESPN reported his scans after the Champions League final raised fears he might miss the tournament entirely. Now, with France already through to the Round of 32, manager Didier Deschamps has chosen caution over risk.
A Long-Running Back Problem Finally Forces Saliba Out
Saliba's injury story began on May 30, when he played 120 minutes in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League final against PSG in Budapest. According to Foot Mercato, he aggravated a pre-existing back problem during that match. Deschamps initially brushed off concerns, saying at a June 4 press conference, "William is fine and will be managed."
Saliba did start France's first two group games. He helped France beat Senegal 3-1 and Iraq 3-0, according to RotoWire. But on June 25, L'Equipe journalist Hugo Delom reported that Saliba skipped the team's final Boston training session for "rest reasons" tied to his back. By match day on June 26, his absence from the starting XI was confirmed by FotMob.
Lacroix and Konaté Step Up to Replace France's Defensive Anchor
Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix is expected to make his major tournament debut in Saliba's place. The 24-year-old only made his international debut last month and has just 31 fewer caps than Saliba, who has 31 to his name, according to DefensaCentral. Lacroix has a current market value of €50 million, per Transfermarkt, a figure that could rise sharply with a strong performance.
Lacroix is expected to partner Dayot Upamecano, with Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté also in contention. Konaté is set to join Real Madrid on July 1, adding an extra spotlight to his performance. Analysts at L'Equipe warn that without Saliba's elite one-on-one defending and recovery pace, France may be forced to sit deeper to limit space behind the defensive line.
Haaland and Norway Smell Blood in the Water
Norway enters this match with a genuine shot at topping the group. Erling Haaland is tied for the Golden Boot lead with four goals, level with Kylian Mbappé, according to FanDuel. Norway is competing in its first World Cup since 1998. beIN SPORTS notes the Haaland-Odegaard axis has already torn apart both Senegal and Iraq.
CBS Sports reports that Norway manager Stale Solbakken has downplayed Saliba's injury in public, preferring to focus on the Mbappé vs. Haaland narrative. But analysts believe Norway's attackers will target the less-experienced Lacroix directly. France remains the betting favorite at -160, though Norway's odds of winning have shortened to +360 following the injury news, per FanDuel.
What the Result Means for France's World Cup Path
France holds a slim edge in goal difference — plus-five compared to Norway's plus-four — meaning a draw is enough for France to top Group I, per beIN SPORTS. A France win or draw locks in a favorable bracket position and likely avoids a top-seeded team until the quarterfinals. A Norway win flips the bracket and could put France on a much harder road.
The longer-term stakes are just as high. Saliba played 50 of 63 possible matches for Arsenal this season as they won their first Premier League title in 22 years, according to Deadspin. A medical expert quoted by FourFourTwo warned that "a chronic back issue at age 25 is concerning" and that one wrong landing "could end Saliba's tournament and potentially impact his 2026/27 club season." Deschamps is betting that rest now means Saliba available later.
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