France's World Cup Defense Hit by Defensive Absences Ahead of Spain Semi-Final

France's World Cup campaign faces a minor setback as key central defenders Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba were absent from the team's training session on Saturday. This comes just three days before their highly anticipated semi-final clash against Spain in Dallas.

Saliba has been dealing with a persistent back problem since the tournament began, leading him to participate minimally in training and often only featuring in matches. Upamecano was also rested for the session, though no specific reason was given for his absence. The French team's staff indicated that neither situation is considered serious.

In a positive development for coach Didier Deschamps, midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to training. Tchouaméni had missed the last two matches due to adductor pain but is now available for selection for the crucial semi-final against Spain. Deschamps has a policy of managing player workloads, allowing those with minor ailments to skip sessions based on their condition.

The French squad is scheduled to travel to Dallas, Texas, on Sunday for the semi-final match, a journey expected to take nearly five hours by plane. The team is looking to secure a spot in the final as they continue their World Cup defense.