With just four days to go before their World Cup 2026 opener against Senegal, the French national team is facing some uncertainties regarding the physical condition of key players. On Friday, June 12, two players seen as vital to Didier Deschamps’ setup, William Saliba and Théo Hernandez, will not participate in the collective training session with the Blues.
This announcement has naturally raised many questions among observers and French supporters as the clash against the Lions of Senegal approaches. However, the coaching staff of the French team has tried to reassure everyone about the situation of the two defenders.
According to information from the Blues’ staff, William Saliba will follow an individualized program to manage his physical condition, while Théo Hernandez will simply be rested during this session. The coaching team also wanted to calm any concerns by stating that there is “no worry” regarding their availability for the tournament’s first match.
William Saliba’s situation, however, is under particular scrutiny. The Arsenal central defender has been dealing with back pain for several weeks. Despite this ongoing discomfort, he continued to play for his English club right up to the Champions League final. Arsenal lost to Paris Saint-Germain, a defeat that delayed Saliba’s arrival for the national team gathering.
Due to this late arrival and to avoid any risks, the French staff decided to rest him for the first warm-up match against Ivory Coast on June 4 in Nantes. That match ended with a 2-1 defeat for the Blues.
A few days later, William Saliba returned to the pitch for the second friendly match against Northern Ireland. Starting the game, he played the first half before being substituted at halftime by Maxence Lacroix. This careful management of his playing time confirms the medical staff’s intention to guide him gradually back to full fitness before the competition starts.
On the other hand, Théo Hernandez seems to raise much less concern. The left-back was a starter in both of France’s warm-up matches. His absence from Friday’s collective training appears more as a precaution to avoid any physical overload just days before the showdown against Senegal.
At this stage, there’s nothing to suggest that the two players will miss the highly anticipated match against the Lions. The French staff continues to manage the players carefully to approach this World Cup in the best possible conditions.
Even though their absence from training may fuel speculation, the message from the coaching staff remains clear: there is “no worry” regarding William Saliba and Théo Hernandez. The coming days will confirm their fitness ahead of this crucial duel between France and Senegal, set to kick off the Blues’ World Cup campaign.
