William Saliba has been ruled out of France's final World Cup group game against Norway due to an ongoing back injury, assistant coach Guy Stephan confirmed on Thursday.
France top Group I
France sit top of Group I with six points from wins over Senegal and Iraq, ahead of Norway on goal difference. A draw on Friday would secure top spot for Les Bleus.
Didier Deschamps will not be on the touchline after returning to France following the death of his mother. Stephan will lead the team against Norway.
Saliba's injury and replacement
Saliba, who started alongside Dayot Upamecano in both previous group games, is being rested due to a back injury he has managed for several months. 'I've had some minor discomfort for several months,' Saliba said last week. 'I gritted my teeth because of the Champions League and the Premier League. But the staff are managing it very well. The World Cup only comes around every four years, so you have to grit your teeth.'
Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, who is close to joining Chelsea in a £48 million deal, replaces Saliba in one of four changes from the side that beat Iraq.
Confirmed lineups
Norway XI: Selvik; Aursnes, Ostigard, Falchener, Bjorkan; Aasgaard, Berg, Thorstvedt; Oscar Bobb, Strand Larsen, Schjelderup
France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, T.Hernandez; Kone, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
'Two players will not participate in the training session… William Saliba, who will be rested, and Marcus Thuram, who has a slight calf strain and will be rested today,' Stephan said. 'William won't be there tomorrow. We'll have to refer to the person [Lacroix] who replaced him in the last few matches.'
