William Saliba has been medically cleared to participate for France in the World Cup and is expected to start in their final friendly against Northern Ireland in Lille this Monday, according to ESPN sources.
The 25-year-old Arsenal defender had an assessment for a back injury last week, and following several days of treatment, he reports significantly reduced pain compared to the discomfort he experienced during his Champions League appearance with the Gunners against PSG in late May, which cast doubt on his World Cup availability.
Since joining the team last Tuesday, he has only trained twice with the France squad. Although his back has been occasionally sore, he is feeling much better and is set to travel to the U.S. with the team on Wednesday. The upcoming match against Northern Ireland will provide valuable insight into his back’s condition.
The medical staff continues to monitor his injury closely, and precautions are being taken; however, Didier Deschamps is relieved to have one of his key players available for the tournament.