France manager criticised for ignoring Arsenal star as Euro 2024 nears
William Saliba is one of the best defenders in the world
France’s legend Frank Laboeuf criticised the team’s head coach Didier Deschamps for ignoring top Arsenal defender, William Saliba, as Euro 2024 is nearing.
Saliba, 23, is widely considered one of the best defenders in the world and is a key player of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal which is competing in the Premier League against Liverpool and Manchester City.
The defender was left on the bench during France’s 2-0 defeat to Germany on Saturday, which meant he only started the last two of France’s 18 matches.
Laboeuf, while talking to ESPN, after the match against Germany stated that France’s defence is the weakest area of the team as Euro 2024 is just three months away.
“I would say defence right now,” Laboeuf said when asked about the team’s weakest point. “It used to be strong. But it’s like Didier Deschamps is wondering who is the best duo at centre-back.
“He tried something else [for the defeat to Germany]. In the middle of the park, I would say we have a list of fantastic players, how they are going to match together is going to be a question mark but the talent is there. When you see the names of the players in the middle of the park for France, it’s crazy.
“Didier has to find the right four players to play as defenders. When he does so, we will be very strong.”
While Saliba is expected to start in Tuesday’s friendly against Chile, Deschamps criticised the defender saying he does things he doesn’t like.
"He is having a good season, but he also does things that I don’t like so much. For France, he has limited game time, but when he plays, that hasn’t necessarily gone well,” Deschamps told reporters in a presser.
“The hierarchy doesn’t favour him at the moment, but he is here. Dayot Upamecano has had game time and perhaps William has had less. With certain players, I make sure to persevere, because it can be confidence or little blockages that can shift. Some don’t have any concerns, some need game time. William has had less game time, so that doesn’t allow him to be very calm."
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