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  "path": "/2026/06/26/william-saliba-norway-vs-france-due-injury-28938992/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-26T17:42:37.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
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    "Didier Deschamps",
    "France football team",
    "William Saliba",
    "World Cup",
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    "Dayot Upamecano",
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    "who is close to joining Chelsea in a £48 million deal",
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  "textContent": "William Saliba has been ruled out of France’s game against Norway (Shutterstock)\n\nWilliam Saliba has been ruled out of France’s final World Cup group game against Norway due to injury.\n\nFrance sit top of Group I following wins over Senegal and Iraq and are ahead of Norway, who are also on six points, due to a superior goal difference.\n\nLes Bleus will be without Didier Deschamps on the touchline as the 57-year-old has returned to France following the death of his mother.\n\nFrance’s assistant coach, Guy Stephan, will lead the team in Deschamps’ absence for the game against Norway on Friday.\n\n##  Don't miss a World Cup moment\n\n(Picture: Getty)\n\n\nWe're witnessing history at this World Cup – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up.\n\nSaliba, meanwhile, has started alongside Dayot Upamecano for both of France’s games at the World Cup so far but the Arsenal centre-back is being rested against Norway due to an ongoing back injury.\n\nCrystal Palace defender, Maxence Lacroix, who is close to joining Chelsea in a £48 million deal, replaces Saliba at the heart of France’s defence, in one of four changes from the side that beat Iraq.\n\nSurprisingly, Ståle Solbakken has heavily rotated Norway’s team, dropping Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to the bench.\n\n##  Norway vs France confirmed starting XIs\n\n**Norway XI** : Selvik; Aursnes, Ostigard, Falchener, Bjorkan; Aasgaard, Berg, Thorstvedt; Oscar Bobb, Strand Larsen, Schjelderup\n\n**France XI:** Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, T.Hernandez; Kone, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe\n\nWilliam Salibahas been playing with a back injury at the World Cup (AP Photo)\n\nSpeaking at a press conference on Thursday, Stephan revealed that Saliba would be rested against Norway.\n\n‘Two players will not participate in the training session… William Saliba, who will be rested, and Marcus Thuram, who has a slight calf strain and will be rested today,’ Stephan said.\n\n‘William won’t be there tomorrow. We’ll have to refer to the person [Lacroix] who replaced him in the last few matches.’\n\nMaxence Lacroix replaces William Saliba in central defence against Norway (Getty)\n\nSpeaking last week, Saliba revealed that he has been playing with the back injury before the start of the World Cup.\n\n‘I’ve had some minor discomfort for several months,’ Saliba revealed.\n\n‘I gritted my teeth because of the Champions League and the Premier League. But the staff are managing it very well. The World Cup only comes around every four years, so you have to grit your teeth.\n\n‘I’m not at 100 per cent but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either, there’s no point in making excuses.’\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "William Saliba out of Norway vs France due to injury"
}