Three French defenders skip training but staff says 'no worry' before Senegal opener

France held their Friday training at Bentley University in Boston without three likely starters, though the French Football Federation (FFF) and coaching staff delivered a reassuring message.

The absentees

William Saliba has been dealing with back pain for several weeks after a long season with Arsenal. He arrived late to the French camp following Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and was rested for France's first warm-up match against Ivory Coast on 4 June in Nantes. He then played the first half of a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland on 8 June in Lille before being replaced at the break by Maxence Lacroix. On Friday the staff said Saliba would follow an individual programme rather than join the group.

“William Saliba will not take part in the day's team training. Theo Hernandez is also rested as a precaution as is Aurelien Tchouameni.”

The FFF's briefing to reporters added that there was "no worry" about the condition of either defender. Theo Hernandez and Tchouameni, both regular starters, were held out as a precaution; Hernandez had featured in both warm-up fixtures, while Tchouameni was also among those listed as rested.

Session details

Twenty outfield players took part in the session, split by coach Didier Deschamps into two teams of ten. Captain Kylian Mbappé trained on one side alongside Dayot Upamecano and Jules Koundé, while Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué wore bibs on the opposing team. About 400 fans, mostly children, attended the practice in sweltering heat.

What comes next

France, winners in 2018 and finalists in 2022, open their World Cup campaign against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New York on Tuesday 16 June at 9 p.m. local time. Further group matches in Group I follow against Iraq and Norway.