Arsenal are guaranteed to have a player in the World Cup final after William Saliba’s France were drawn against Spain’s Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and David Raya in Tuesday’s semi-final.
According to a fresh update from Yahoo Sports, citing L’Equipe, Saliba missed France’s training session on Saturday as he continues to follow a modified programme designed to manage ongoing back pain, with Didier Deschamps’ side preparing to face Luis de la Fuente’s Spain in Dallas. Despite the earlier absences, the centre-back has started and completed 90 minutes in five of France’s six games at the tournament, and he is expected to be involved when the two European heavyweights meet on Tuesday evening.
Mikel Merino Continues Super-Sub Heroics For Spain
Spain reached the last four by beating Belgium 2-1, with Merino scoring an 88th-minute winner just 117 seconds after replacing Dani Olmo, according to Sky Sports. It made him the first player in World Cup history to score winning goals in separate knockout ties as a substitute, having also struck a 91st-minute winner against Portugal in the round of 16.
Merino’s recovery from the stress fracture that left him needing a mobility scooter in January has made his impact at the tournament all the more striking, and he lines up alongside fellow Arsenal players Zubimendi and Raya in a Spain squad Gunners fans have followed closely throughout the World Cup.
Kick-off in Dallas is scheduled for 8pm UK time on Tuesday, with the winner progressing to face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final. Whichever side comes through, Arsenal’s summer is already assured of a World Cup finalist.
