France centre-back William Saliba said on Saturday he was «gritting his teeth» and playing through pain during the World Cup after suffering a back problem in recent months.
The defender was a key figure in helping his club Arsenal secure their first Premier League title in 22 years last season, but told reporters he is not operating at «100 percent» in North America as he tries to help France win a third World Cup.
«I have been having some small problems for several months. I have been gritting my teeth because there were the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff is dealing with it very well,» Saliba said at a press conference ahead of his country’s upcoming Group I match against Iraq.
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“The World Cup is only held once every four years, so you have to grit your teeth.”
«I’m not at 100 percent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 percent either. You can’t make excuses,» he added.
Saliba has been on a personal training program since the France squad met for the World Cup, but still managed to put in a strong performance in the 1998 and 2018 champions’ opening group stage win against Senegal on Tuesday.
Les Bleus will take on Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday, where they can secure progression to the knockout stages with a win, before taking on Norway four days later.
Published on June 21, 2026
