June 11th 2024.
William Saliba, the young star of Arsenal, is facing a tough battle for a spot in the French national team's starting lineup. Despite a stellar performance in the Premier League alongside his teammate Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba has yet to establish himself as a regular starter for his country. In fact, it seems that Didier Deschamps, the French manager, has already made his decision to overlook Saliba and instead start with the centre-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate for the Euro 2024 opener against Austria.
Saliba, at the age of 21, has shown immense potential and was a key part of Arsenal's success in having the best defensive record in the Premier League. However, his performance was not enough to convince Deschamps, who openly criticized the young defender for certain aspects of his game that he did not like. Despite this, Saliba has been included in France's 26-man squad for the upcoming European Championships and was even given a rare start in the warm-up game against Canada last weekend.
In that game, Saliba proved to be a dominant presence at the back alongside Upamecano, earning the man-of-the-match award in the goalless draw. He also played a crucial role in France's previous clash with Luxembourg, helping his team secure a clean sheet. Despite these impressive performances, it seems that Saliba will have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench for the Group D opener against Austria.
According to Le Parisien, Saliba's inclusion in the starting lineup is unlikely, with Deschamps considering him as the third-choice centre-back behind Upamecano and Konate. It is expected that these two experienced defenders, who have been capped 20 and 16 times respectively, will be given the nod, with AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan guarding the goal.
However, Saliba's role as the third-choice centre-back is not to be underestimated. In case of an injury to either Upamecano or Konate, Deschamps will not hesitate to call upon Saliba to step up and prove himself on the big stage. Despite the snub from his manager, Saliba has remained focused and determined, shining for Arsenal in the past season and proving his worth as one of the best defenders in the world.
Some have criticized Deschamps for his handling of Saliba, including former France World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf. He has openly expressed his confusion as to why the young defender is not given more opportunities to showcase his talent. In fact, when asked about France's weakest area ahead of the Euros, Leboeuf pointed to the defense, stating that Deschamps seems unsure of who the best duo at centre-back is.
Leboeuf also praised Saliba, agreeing with the suggestion that he is France's strongest defender at the moment. He believes that Saliba deserves more playing time and the chance to prove himself at the highest level. As the Euros approach, all eyes will be on Saliba and his progress, with fans and analysts alike eager to see if he will be given the chance to shine for his country.
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