A Surprising Defensive Star at Euro 2024: Who Stole the Show?
Arsenal’s rising star, William Saliba, delivered an impressive performance for France in their Euro 2024 opener against Austria. Les Bleus, aiming for their first Euro victory since 2000, saw a formidable display from Saliba, who started ahead of the expected choice, Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.
Pre-Tournament Expectations and Selection Surprise
Before heading to Germany, it was widely anticipated that Konate would partner with Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano in the French defense. However, following an exceptional season at Arsenal and a strong showing in a friendly against Canada, Saliba was chosen for the starting XI in France’s first match on Monday night.
French Media Reacts to Saliba’s Performance
France, a favorite to win Euro 2024, boasts a squad filled with talent, led by the sensational Kylian Mbappe. Despite the high expectations, Austria posed some challenges for the French side. Saliba, positioned on the left side of the central defense—a shift from his usual right-center role at Arsenal—adapted admirably. Although he had a few missteps, his overall performance was commendable.
French media outlet L’Equipe rated Saliba a 6/10, noting, “For his first in a big tournament, the Arsenal defender was playing big. And he passed the test successfully. Dominating in the duel, attentive in depth, he cut several dangerous centers. Despite a few positioning errors, he handled pressure situations cleanly and initiated efficient plays.”
GFFN echoed this sentiment with another 6/10 rating, stating, “Starting for the first time for France in a major tournament, he did most things right and showed the right amount of aggression when pushing up into the midfield. Despite a couple of mistakes, overall, he can be happy.”
FootMercato was slightly more critical, giving him a 5.5/10 rating, yet still acknowledging his solid performance: “Aligned alongside Upamecano, at the expense of Konate, Saliba was a surprise pick by Deschamps. He managed the ball well under pressure and did his job despite some errors. He was less tested in the second half.”
Saliba’s Stellar Stats Against Austria
Saliba’s statistics from the match underscore his strong performance. He had 75 touches, a 94% passing accuracy, won all his ground duels, and completed all his dribbles. Defensively, he made six clearances and regained possession seven times—the highest on the pitch that night.
Proving the Critics Wrong
Before the game, there was considerable debate about whether Konate should have started over Saliba. Following his performance, critics have fallen silent. Saliba, who played every minute of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign last season, bringing them to the brink of the title, has clearly carried his exceptional form into the Euros.
Conclusion
William Saliba’s performance against Austria has demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level, reinforcing his value to both Arsenal and the French national team. As France continues its Euro 2024 campaign, Saliba’s contributions could be pivotal in their quest for glory.