France’s nightmare start against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final went from bad to worse after William Saliba was forced off with an apparent injury inside 30 minutes of the first half.
Already trailing after Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted a penalty to hand La Roja the lead, Didier Deschamps suffered another major setback when his star centre-back could not continue.
The incident occurred around the 30th-minute mark. Saliba received the ball deep inside France’s half before suddenly sitting down on the pitch in visible discomfort.
After receiving treatment from the medical staff, the Arsenal defender signalled that he was unable to continue, with Maxence Lacroix replacing him at the heart of the French defence.
The early substitution is a huge concern for Les Bleus, who were already chasing the game after Oyarzabal’s spot-kick put Spain ahead. Losing one of their most dependable defenders at such a crucial stage of the tournament leaves France with a massive challenge against the reigning European champions.
Saliba’s Injury Concerns Continue
Saliba’s withdrawal does not come entirely out of the blue. The 25-year-old had been managing a persistent back problem throughout the World Cup. He missed France’s training session in Boston ahead of the semi-final as the coaching staff carefully monitored his workload, although he was ultimately deemed fit enough to start against Spain.
However, the defender’s evening was cut short after just half an hour, raising fresh concerns over the severity of the issue. France’s medical team is now expected to assess the injury in the coming hours to determine whether it is merely a recurrence of his back problem or something more serious.
With France already a goal behind, Saliba’s exit has handed Spain an even greater advantage as Les Bleus attempt to fight their way back into the World Cup semi-final. Further updates on the Arsenal defender’s condition are expected after the match.