William Saliba doubtful for France World Cup after injury

Arsenal defender William Saliba is a significant doubt for the upcoming FIFA World Cup after aggravating a pre-existing injury during his club's UEFA Champions League final defeat last Saturday. The 25-year-old French international played the full 120 minutes for Arsenal in their penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, reportedly worsening a minor issue he had been carrying.

The injury, described as potentially sidelining Saliba for several weeks, places his participation in the tournament in serious jeopardy. France begins its World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16, with group stage matches against Iraq and Norway to follow. National team head coach Didier Deschamps and the French Football Federation are now closely monitoring the defender's condition.

Saliba had been contending with ankle problems earlier this year, which caused him to miss France's friendly matches against Brazil and Colombia in March. Despite that recurring issue, he featured prominently for Arsenal throughout the remainder of their season, forming a key defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes and helping the club secure its first Premier League title in 22 years. His appearance...