William Saliba doubts for France after injury in Champions League final

William Saliba faces a race to be fit for the World Cup in North America after aggravating an injury during Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat in Budapest. The 25-year-old played the full 120 minutes as a mainstay of Mikel Arteta’s defence, but the physical toll of the showpiece match has left his summer plans in doubt.

Foot Mercato reported Saliba entered the final carrying a minor injury that had been managed behind the scenes, and the intensity of the match significantly worsened the problem. With France’s tournament set to begin on June 11, medical staff will assess whether he can recover in time or will be ruled out.

The injury compounds the disappointment of the 1-1 draw and subsequent penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Puskas Arena. Gabriel missed the decisive spot-kick, gifting the title to PSG and adding to the Arsenal squad’s frustration. Didier Deschamps now faces a defensive dilemma if Saliba is unavailable.

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