Saliba Plays Through Pain for France at World Cup

William Saliba, a 22-year-old defender for Arsenal and the France National Team, is currently participating in the World Cup while managing a back problem that has affected him for several months. In a press conference, Saliba expressed that he is not operating at 100% but is determined to contribute to France's efforts to win their third World Cup title.

He mentioned that many players are also not at full fitness, indicating that this is a common challenge among athletes at this level. Saliba has been following a personalized training program as part of the France squad, which is preparing for their upcoming group match against Iraq.

France, the reigning champions from 1998 and 2018, aims to progress to the knockout stage after their opening group stage victory against Senegal. The match against Iraq is set to take place in Philadelphia.