France defender William Saliba back in full training

France defender William Saliba has returned to full training with the national team, easing concerns over his fitness ahead of the team's FIFA World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday. The Arsenal center-back, who had been managing a back injury, participated in a full squad session in Boston on Sunday, marking a significant step forward in his recovery.

Saliba had missed team training sessions on Thursday and Friday last week, following an individual recovery program for ongoing back pain. The French Football Federation confirmed his absence at the time, stating he would not take part in the day's activities alongside teammates Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni, who were rested as a precaution. Initial reports had suggested the injury, which was aggravated during Arsenal's Champions League final run, could potentially jeopardize his entire tournament.

However, team officials, including coach Didier Deschamps, consistently played down the severity of the issue. Deschamps had previously stated he expected Saliba to be fit for the World Cup. The defender's participation in a 45-minute appearance during France's final warm-up friendly, a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland on...