France got off to a winning start at Euro 2024 tonight, but Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate was only named on the bench. It appears that William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano will be the starting center-back pairing for France at the tournament.
For the most part, William Saliba gave his debut at UEFA EURO 2024 a tremendous effort. He completed the most passes of any player in the game with fifty-nine accurate passes during his ninety-nine-minute effort. In addition, he finished the one dribble he tried and made all four of the long passes with accuracy. Saliba prevailed in three aerial duels, completed seven ball recoveries, and made six defensive clearances. Interestingly, he wasn’t even dribbled past.
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In an attempt to score a run on the ball in the box, Sabitzer darts through on the left, drawing pressure from Saliba and Upamecano. He cries for a penalty after he falls, but the referee immediately brushes him off.
VAR doesn’t even seem concerned, as seen by their failure to conduct a cursory investigation.
Euro 2024 Football – Group D – Austria vs. France – June 17, 2024 – Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany William Saliba of France and Marcel Sabitzer of Austria in action Wolfgang Rattay for REUTERS
Football in Group D of the 2024 Euro Championship: Austria vs. France, June 17, 2024, Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany In action: Frenchman William Saliba and Austrian Marcel Sabitzer Rattay, Wolfgang, for REUTERS
Saliba should have done better in a couple of situations, notably when he made the slightly off-target head clearing that gave Austria the lead. Saliba’s out-of-position play as left center-back, as opposed to his more comfortable right-sided duty at Arsenal, is most likely the cause of this. He was a right-footed player, so when Austria pressed high and he had to make snap judgements with his weaker left foot, he occasionally appeared a little uneasy.
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Saliba’s big-stage debut was still, all things considered, extremely promising. If given more time to acclimatise to his international teammates and establish his footing as a left-sided center-back, he appears capable of being a dependable player for France in the future.