Every team has now played at Euro 2024, including several Arsenal players taking centre stage.
The tournament started with Kai Havertz’s Germany putting five past sorry Scotland. A certain Kieran Tierney was on the end of that thrashing.
Bukayo Saka assisted Jude Bellingham’s goal as England opened their Euro 2024 account by beating Serbia 1-0.
And William Saliba was handed a rare start by Didier Deschamps as France beat Austria 1-0 in their opening game at the European Championships.
Many of these players have been outstanding for Arsenal this season and key starters on the international stage.
But that hasn’t been the case for Saliba, with his manager previously calling out and expressing what he doesn’t like about the centre-back’s game.
That tactic has gone down well with some, but not for Gary Neville who admitted that ‘it wouldn’t calm me down’, as he told ITV Sport.
The Manchester United legend described Deschamps’s approach as ‘unorthodox’ and how Saliba has been ‘one of the very best’ in the Premier League this season.
Yet, the man in the France dugout feels the need to call out Saliba, but then start him for his nation’s Euro 2024 opener where he made a steady start.
William Saliba criticised on France duty
“It wouldn’t calm me down if you were a young player,” said Neville. “You need some sort of confidence in yourself to come through that.
“I think Deschamps has got so much power and so much control. I think he is saying it for a reason. There must be something that Saliba is doing within the squad that he’s not liking. We have seen Gareth Southgate, at times, be like that with young players over the last few years where he has left them out.
“It’s unorthodox to say that about a player that in the Premier League this season was so good. One of the very best in the league in his position. You can understand how that can motivate a player. But harsh words and tough love. Sometimes it works.”
William Saliba makes a strong start at Euro 2024
This could have been a tactic by Deschamps and he probably did it to try and get the best out of the player.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the France manager always planned to start Saliba, but just wanted to push a few buttons to see how he would react.
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And, so far, the Arsenal man has started very well and deserves his starting place.
But Saliba’s real test will come during these coming weeks when France, one of the favourites to win the whole competition, go toe-to-toe with the big boys.
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