Les Bleus have work to do to finish top of their group after drawing 0-0 with Ronald Koeman’s men in Leipzig. One of the key talking points was Didier Deschamps deciding against using Kylian Mbappe following the nose injury that he suffered against Austria in the opening game.
France rode their luck at times, with Netherlands having a goal ruled out due to offside. But Mike Maignan is still yet to concede a goal at the tournament.
One of the players who has to take some of the credit for that is William Saliba, with the Arsenal defender starting both of the games.
Alan Shearer amazed by William Saliba as France draw with Netherlands
It was actually a largely uneventful game for the 23-year-old, with Whoscored showing that he did not attempt a single challenge or a single dribble. And, in news that will not surprise Arsenal fans in the slightest, he completed 85 of his 86 passes.
“Saliba has been really good, though, hasn’t he? There was a one-on-one Saliba had, and he was outstanding, wasn’t he? He was in control of the situation. He was brilliant. That one-v-one that he had, I think it was with [Jeremie] Frimpong actually, and he was just in total control of the situation. He pushed him where he wanted to go and got the tackle in.”
Interest in signing Arsenal star continues to build
It would have been a surprise to regular viewers of the Premier League that there was even a shred of doubt over whether Saliba would start for France at this summer’s tournament.
Didier Deschamps has not always been convinced by Saliba. And France are blessed with having several superb centre-back options.
But Saliba has surely established himself as one of the best defenders in the world right now. Certainly, it is no surprise that some of the world’s best teams are eyeing ambitious moves for the youngster.
Barcelona are the latest side to be linked with Saliba, but the Catalan giants accept a move is unlikely while Mikel Arteta remains at the helm.
He is such a complete player with a scarcely-believable ceiling, and he has now taken his moments of brilliance for Arsenal onto the international stage.
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