William Saliba back problem, could he really face Spain and how many months out? | OneFootball

William Saliba’s chronic back problem forced him off early in France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain, prompting scrutiny of his selection and short-term future.

According to L'Équipe, the 25-year-old told Dayot Upamecano he could not continue moments before departing on 30 minutes in the 2-0 loss. He had tried to ease a blocking sensation with stretches, notably around Spain’s 20th-minute penalty.

For six weeks he had got through matches only with strong painkillers and a light training programme. He skipped day-after sessions, with France mirroring Arsenal’s protocols.

The pattern echoed the Champions League final intensity. Against PSG he felt pain after five minutes yet lasted another 115. Versus Spain the discomfort again appeared quickly.

At this level, stress and intensity can increase muscular tension and aggravate any blockage, particularly in high-speed runs. It is hard to fault Didier Deschamps for keeping the Upamecano-Saliba partnership that had impressed. Through camp at Clairefontaine he relied on the player’s and medical staff’s feedback, and he might not have had the full picture of how constant the pain was.

Saliba will not play Saturday’s third-place play-off in Miami. Further tests are planned and surgery is considered the likeliest route, which would keep him out for several months. Arsenal are planning for an absence of four or five months, although the timeline depends on the treatment chosen, and the centre-back, who has battled back pain since adolescence, will need time to recover then rebuild.

Source: L'Équipe