It's a nice early birthday present for William Saliba.
The Marseille central defender, born on March 24, 2001, will experience the joys of the France team for the first time in his young career.
Didier Deschamps called him this morning to replace Benjamin Pavard, who tested positive for coronavirus last Thursday.
The native of Bondy impresses this season with Marseille second in the championship.
William Saliba has also played in full twenty-eight of the twenty-nine Ligue 1 games this season, at the head of the second best defense, tied, in the championship (27 goals conceded).
William Saliba (@OM_Officiel), is called up for the Blues for the first time to replace Benjamin Pavard, package.
#ProudofBleus pic.twitter.com/JnCIqmvdQa
– French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 21, 2022
For the former Saint-Etienne, this summons is also the result of a logical progression over the past few years.
The central defender, loaned by Arsenal to OM, has made his mark in the French team in all age categories, from U16 to Espoirs, with which he has five selections.
Sylvain Ripoll had also decided to call William Saliba for this international break before this new upheaval.
The Marseillais can therefore hope to play a few minutes in his stadium on Friday (8:45 p.m.), during the friendly match against the Ivory Coast.
All the more so if Didier Deschamps decides to align a system with three central defenders whom he knows particularly well at OM, with Jorge Sampaoli as coach.