William Saliba returned to action for France after a back injury, and the Arsenal defender produced a top performance in a 3-1 win over Senegal.
Kylian Mbappe kick-started his World Cup campaign with an impressive brace for the two-time world champions, with Arsenal target Bradley Barcola scoring the third.
🏆 Which Arsenal star will go the furthest at this summer’s World Cup?
Zubimendi and Spain? Saka and England? Saliba and France?
For Saliba, it was an impressive World Cup debut, as he returned from a back injury to start for Didier Deschamps’ France side.
Following the win in New York, the French media have been reacting to the performance and have had a lot to say about Saliba.
William Saliba impresses vs Senegal
William Saliba produced a very impressive performance in France’s 3-1 win in their World Cup opener against Senegal.
Saliba came into the tournament with a back issue; however, he showed no signs of struggling against the African nation on Tuesday.
The defender will be frustrated that his team failed to keep a clean sheet after Ibrahim Mbaye scored a 95th-minute goal for Senegal.
Defensively, Saliba didn’t have a great deal to do, but did everything so confidently, managing four interceptions, two receptions, and winning one aerial duel.
The French media have now reacted to his performance and were very impressed by how the Arsenal star fared at MetLife Stadium.
- 7/10 Eurosport France: “In a less spectacular but no less effective style than his central defensive partner, Saliba managed the spaces with great intelligence. His toe-poke tackle that saved the nation from Sarr (52nd minute) will be remembered. Unplayable in the air, he was essential.”
- FootMercato 6/10: “Slightly less dominant than his centre-back partner, he still performed well in some crucial situations. That said, he was a bit late in several duels and was outmuscled in the air. Was this a consequence of his lingering back pain? He was sharper after the break and very reassuring.”
- L’Equipe rated him 6/10: “Despite his persistent back problems, the Arsenal defender delivered a very consistent performance. Solid in duels and well-positioned, he never looked out of position. Making a good recovery tackle on Jackson (52nd minute), he intelligently managed the movement of the Senegalese attackers. He was also crucial in the air.”
There have been suggestions that Saliba could need surgery after the tournament, but in France’s first game, he certainly did not show that his back was causing him many issues.
Saliba will strongly fancy his chances of now adding the World Cup to his Premier League title after France’s dominant Senegal.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
