William Saliba criticized after France's shock loss

Arsenal defender William Saliba faced a tough night as France lost 2-0 to Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals. The match, played on Thursday, marked a surprising defeat for the French team. Saliba, 23, struggled against Croatia, who scored two goals from Ante Budimir and former Tottenham player Ivan Perisic. Despite France controlling 62% of possession and taking 16 shots, they could not score. Kylian Mbappe returned to the team after six months but failed to net a goal. Saliba's performance drew criticism from the French media. He received poor ratings, with some outlets highlighting his mistakes. MaxiFoot rated him 4.5 out of 10, noting he was caught off-guard by Budimir during the first goal. Other media criticized his ball distribution, emphasizing that he lost possession too often. Eurosport gave him the lowest rating among his teammates, a mere 3 out of 10, describing him as "nervous" and ineffective in defense. Despite the loss, some reports acknowledged Saliba's efforts in defense. Homme du Match rated him higher, recognizing his contribution in managing aerial threats. This match marked Saliba's 26th cap for France. He continues to be a key player for Arsenal, with 39 appearances this season and two goals in the Premier League.