William Saliba plays through back pain at World Cup for France

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jun 20, 2026, 9:05 PM

Last updated Jun 20, 2026

William Saliba plays through back pain at World Cup for France
Summary

William Saliba of France is playing with a back problem during the World Cup, stating he is not at "100 percent." The defender, key in France's opening Group I win against Senegal, emphasized the importance of the tournament, which occurs only once every four years. Despite minor injuries, he is focused on helping France advance to the knockout stages. France will face Iraq next in Philadelphia, seeking another victory to secure their progression.

Source Links
By the Numbers
  • Saliba has been dealing with back pain for several months.
  • France won their Group I opener against Senegal.
  • The next match for France is against Iraq on June 22.
  • Saliba emphasizes that many players are not at full fitness.
Latest Updates
  • 9:05 PMYahoo SportsFrance's Saliba says playing through the pain at World Cup
What they're saying
"

France centre-half William Saliba said Saturday he has been "gritting his teeth" and playing through the pain at the World Cup after suffering from a back problem for the past few months."The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you've got to grit your teeth."

Related Teams & Leagues

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days