Arsenal dealt major injury blow as William Saliba limps off during World Cup semi-final

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14 July 2026

Centre-half has been playing through injury for

France

this summer

Arsenal

were dealt a major injury worry as

William Saliba

hobbled off in the

World Cup

semi-finals.

The centre-back was replaced by Maxence Lacroix during

’s encounter with Spain, and

Les Bleus

trailed 1-0 at the interval in Arlington, Texas.

Mikel Oyarzabal had opened the scoring for the European champions from the penalty spot, after Lucas Digne, the Paris Saint-Germain left-back, had kicked through Lamine Yamal in the box after misjudging a high ball.

Didier Deschamps and

were handed another blow late in the first half when Saliba went down while in possession on the half-hour, clutching his lower back.

It appeared that the

man could not continue, and Lacroix, a transfer target for Chelsea, warmed up vigorously upon instruction from his manager.

Injured: William Saliba

AFP/Getty

After medical assessment, Saliba was ruled unable to feature for the full 90, and he was replaced by the Crystal Palace defender.

Saliba had previously revealed that he was playing through a back problem throghout this summer’s tournament, and he had endured no major setbacks ahead of his country’s last-four meeting with Spain.

The 25-year-old said ahead of France’s group game against Iraq: “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” he revealed to reporters on Saturday.

“I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the

Premier League

. But the coaching staff are handling it very well.

“The

comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”

“I’m not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either - you can’t make excuses.”

William Saliba suffers injury setback in huge World Cup blow for France

The Independent

Major worry for Arsenal as William Saliba goes off injured during France-Spain

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William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano absent from France training ahead of World Cup semi-final

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