William Saliba ‘fine’ after injury scare as Didier Deschamps carefully manages France stars

France head coach Didier Deschamps has moved to calm concerns over William Saliba’s fitness, insisting the Arsenal defender is “fine” despite reports of a back injury scare ahead of the World Cup.

The 25-year-old joined up with the national squad at their pre-tournament camp outside Paris on Tuesday after featuring in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the weekend.

With France preparing to face Ivory Coast in Nantes on Thursday, Deschamps is expected to carefully manage several players returning from a demanding club season.

Saliba cleared after back scare

France have moved quickly to calm concerns over William Saliba after reports suggested the defender could be a doubt for the tournament due to a back issue.

Didier Deschamps insisted there is no serious problem and confirmed the Arsenal centre-back would be carefully managed during the upcoming friendlies.

The France boss stressed that Saliba’s involvement will be controlled as part of a broader effort to protect players returning from a long season.

Despite the scare, the defender has rejoined the squad and is expected to be available in some capacity against Ivory Coast, although his minutes are likely to be restricted.

Deschamps underlined his importance while making clear there is no risk being taken at this stage of preparation. “William is fine and will be managed. If he had needed to play tomorrow, he would have played,”

Rotation plans as PSG players are monitored

Deschamps is preparing to rotate heavily during France’s final warm-up fixtures as he manages fatigue among players who featured in a demanding European season, particularly those involved in PSG’s Champions League success.

The France coach has already indicated that several key names will be eased into action against Ivory Coast and again in the following friendly against Northern Ireland in Lille.

With five PSG players in the squad, including Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, Deschamps is prioritising recovery over heavy minutes as the World Cup approaches. The France boss made clear that his approach is designed to balance competitiveness with player welfare.

“I will manage the six players involved in the Champions League, even more so those who started, given what lies ahead,” he said. The rotation policy is expected to extend across the squad as Deschamps assesses final places in his tournament selection.

Mbappe calm amid scrutiny and expectation

Deschamps also moved to ease speculation around captain Kylian Mbappe, insisting the forward remains in excellent condition despite a challenging club campaign at Real Madrid.

The France captain has endured a turbulent season without major silverware, but his national team manager has praised his attitude and commitment since arriving at camp.

Questions had been raised about Mbappe’s fitness and focus after he spent time on holiday while recovering from a hamstring issue late in the season, yet Deschamps was clear there are no concerns internally.

“What happened at club level stays at club level. Here, it’s the national team. With the group and those who were there for the first sessions, he has put in the effort,” said Deschamps.

He also highlighted the striker’s experience and leadership as France prepare for another deep World Cup run. “He has experience that others don’t. It will be his third World Cup. He knows how difficult a World Cup is.”