France's soccer player, Hugo Ekitike, made his debut, stepping in for the absent Rayan Cherki to fill the void in the French roster.
Arsenal's William Saliba Sidelined for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Arsenal defender William Saliba has suffered an injury that will prevent him from participating in France's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The news was confirmed by Pep Guardiola, Rayan Cherki's coach, on Sunday.
Saliba's injury occurred while he was playing for Arsenal, but the exact nature of the injury has not been disclosed. Didier Deschamps, the French national team coach, announced a new squad last Thursday for the qualifying campaign, and Saliba was initially included. However, his injury has forced Deschamps to make a change.
Benjamin Pavard has been called up as a substitute for Saliba. Pavard is a member of the French national team and has been added to the squad due to Saliba's injury. Pavard's inclusion comes as a surprise, as he was not initially part of Deschamps' 23-man squad.
Hugo Ekitike, another young talent, will also join the French national team squad at Clairefontaine on Monday. Ekitike was expected to be a potential surprise in Deschamps' squad, but he was not initially included in the 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. However, with Saliba's injury, Ekitike has been called up to fill the vacant spot.
Rayan Cherki, another promising young player, will also be out for at least two months due to a tear in his quadriceps. Cherki was not present during Manchester City's defeat against Brighton on Sunday, and his injury has resulted in Maghnes Akliouche receiving his first call-up to the French national team squad.
Cherki impressed during the previous get-together with the French national team, and his injury is a blow to France's hopes for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, with the addition of Ekitike and Pavard, France still has a strong squad to contest the qualifiers.
The 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign is an important event for France, and Saliba's injury is a setback. However, with the depth of talent in the French national team, they are still well-positioned to compete for a spot in the World Cup. The qualifying campaign begins soon, and fans will be eager to see how the team performs without Saliba.
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