France, Arsenal defender William Saliba admits to playing through the pain at World Cup

The Arsenal centre-back has been managing a back problem for several months and revealed he has been forced to "grit his teeth" during a demanding period that included both the Premier League and Champions League campaigns with the Gunners.

Despite concerns over his fitness heading into the tournament, Saliba played the full 90 minutes in France's 3-1 victory over Senegal in their opening Group I match and remains available for Monday's clash against Iraq in Philadelphia.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, the 25-year-old acknowledged he is still dealing with discomfort but has no intention of using it as an excuse.

"I've had some minor niggles for several months," Saliba told reporters. "I've been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.

"But the coaching staff are handling it very well."

Saliba said the significance of the World Cup has motivated him to keep going despite not being at his best physically.

"The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you've got to grit your teeth," he said.

"I'm not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren't at 100 per cent either â- you can't make excuses."

The defender has been following a personalised training programme since joining up with Didier Deschamps' squad, allowing France's medical staff to carefully manage his workload while ensuring he remains a key part of the team's plans.

Saliba's determination follows another standout season with Arsenal, where he played a pivotal role in delivering the club's first Premier League title in 22 years. The French international made 50 appearances in all competitions as the Gunners also reached the Champions League final, eventually losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

Widely regarded as one of the world's top defenders, Saliba has formed a strong partnership with Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano at the heart of France's defence. His performance against Senegal showed little sign of the injury concerns that surrounded him before the tournament.

France, champions in 1998 and 2018, can secure their place in the last 16 with victory over Iraq before completing their group-stage campaign against Norway.

Les Bleus are among the favourites to lift the trophy, with Opta's supercomputer giving them a tournament-leading 15.1 per cent chance of becoming world champions once again. A win over Iraq would also see France continue their impressive record of winning their opening two matches at four consecutive World Cups.

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