jules koundé sits beside a France selection call that has not been settled yet: William Saliba is a doubt for Tuesday’s World Cup debut against Senegal because of back problems. Didier Deschamps has practically fixed the rest of his lineup, but the center-back spot remains open.
That leaves Ibrahima Konaté as the main alternative. France’s next two training sessions will decide whether Saliba or Konaté starts alongside Dayot Upamecano, and the choice reaches beyond one match because it shapes the first look at France’s defense in the tournament opener.
Saliba’s Back Problems
Saliba has been dealing with the issue since the Champions League final. He did not play 90 minutes in either of France’s two warm-up matches against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland, and he was substituted in the second one to avoid a relapse.
In Boston, he has been resting and following an individual plan set by France’s medical staff. That leaves Deschamps with a decision that is narrower than it first appears: one defender has had more continuity, but the other has had the cleaner physical run into Tuesday.
Konaté And Deschamps
Konaté is the alternative, even if he is expected to start behind Saliba in the race for the tournament role. He struggled against Ivory Coast in France’s warm-up, and that was not the only complication around his build-up.
In January, Konaté said he had suffered mental health problems after the deaths of his former teammate Diogo Jota and his father. He was also an undisputed starter at the last World Cup and a key player in France’s run to the final in Qatar, which gives Deschamps a proven option if Saliba cannot go.
France’s Defensive Choice
The center of France’s defense is the one line still unsettled before Senegal. Upamecano is expected to be part of the pairing either way, but the identity of the second center-back will be watched closely across the final two training sessions in Boston.
Konaté’s coming move to Real Madrid adds another layer to the choice, but the immediate issue is simpler: France needs a starter for Tuesday, and Saliba’s back is the reason the door has opened. If he cannot complete the week’s work, Konaté is the defender most likely to step through it.
