French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has questioned Didier Deschamps for snubbing William Saliba.
The 23-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s leading stars this season, with the Gunners in the running to win both the Premier League and Champions League.
Saliba was left on the bench by Deschamps for France’s 2-0 loss to Germany on Saturday, with Dayot Upamecano and Benjamin Pavard starting in the heart of defence.
It means that Saliba has now started in just two of France’s last 18 matches.
Leboeuf, who was team-mates with Deschamps when they lifted the World Cup at France 98, said that Saliba is the ‘best defender in the world’.
William Saliba has started just two out of France’s last 18 games under Didier Deschamps
Saliba has struggled to break into Deschamps’ first-choice XI with others favoured over him
Frank Leboeuf (seen lifting Deschamps after France’s Euro 2000 triumph) has questioned his former team-mate for not starting the ‘best defender in the world’
When asked if Saliba is France’s strongest defender, he told ESPN: ‘Yeah I agree. That’s a real question for me. I don’t understand why Saliba isn’t playing all the time.
‘He showed to the world that he is the best defender in the world right now, well, the best French defender right now playing for a big club.
‘I don’t know why he’s not playing there. He’s absolutely tremendous. He should deserve the chance to show it at that level.’
France are one of the favourites to win the European Championship this summer, along with the likes of England and Portugal.
Leboeuf feels that their weakest area of the team is in defence and suggested Deschamps is ‘wondering who is the best duo at centre-back’.
He said: ‘Didier has to find the right four players to play as defenders. When he does so, we will be very strong.’
Deschamps explained Saliba’s absence in a damning assessment of the Arsenal defender.
‘He is having a good season, but he also does things that I don’t like so much,’ Deschamps told reporters at a pre-match press conference on Monday.
The defender’s superb form with Arsenal this season is a stark contrast to his Les Blues woes
Deschamps believes Saliba has not yet impressed during his appearances for his country
Dayot Upamecano and Benjamin Pavard started over Saliba in defence against Germany
‘For France, he has limited game time, but when he plays, that hasn’t necessarily gone well.
‘The hierarchy doesn’t favour him at the moment, but he is here. Dayot Upamecano has had game time and perhaps William has had less.
‘With certain players, I make sure to persevere, because it can be confidence or little blockages that can shift.
‘Some don’t have any concerns, some need game time. William has had less game time, so that doesn’t allow him to be very calm.’
Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate, who missed the last three Liverpool matches with a hamstring injury, is set to feature in France’s friendly against Chile on Tuesday night as he steps up his recovery.
